The two teams worked on their arrangements simultaneously. Each trying to predict the other's thinking. Adjusting orders based on assumptions about what the opponent would prioritize.
It was a chess game before the pieces even began moving.
When they finally revealed their orders to Zhao for confirmation...
Larissa had won the arrangement matchup.
By a narrow margin.
But sufficiently.
She'd predicted correctly most of Ren's decisions about positioning.
And had adjusted her own order to exploit those predicted decisions.
Guaranteeing early victories that would build momentum before facing him directly.
It was a small advantage. Ren's team was weaker on average than Larissa's anyway... he'd had fewer quality options in the random teammate assignment lottery.
But every advantage counted in this situation.
Especially when you knew eventually you'd have to face the monster at the end of the line.
