I am the Arcane Archer, and all my skills are self-created.

As the countdown to "The Burning Crusade" ticked away, the atmosphere in the entire Realm of Origin grew increasingly tense.

Preparations for the upcoming events are in full swing across all servers.

As the "sharpest blade" of District 21, the Myth Guild's preparations for battle have entered a white-hot stage.

On the top floor of the Thousand Gold Pavilion, in front of a huge magic sand table.

Li Wu, Hua Zitong, and all the core combat members of the guild were gathered here.

The magic sandbox no longer displays a map of Ironforge, but a panoramic view of the entire District 21.

Mountains, rivers, forests, swamps... every terrain feature is clearly visible.

"According to the intelligence sent back by Nightwind's Shadow Squad over the past twenty hours," Hua Zitong said in a deep voice, pointing to several small dots flashing red on the sand table, "we have currently discovered a total of seven unstable spatial fluctuation points in District 21."

"These seven points are located in different areas. Among them, three are the most dangerous."

She reached out and drew three circles on the sand table.

"The first one is in the 'Cursed Lands' in the west. It's a level 35-40 undead zone with complex terrain and is shrouded in shadow energy year-round. The location of the spatial fluctuation point is deep within the undead stronghold, in a place called 'The Ruins of Rot'."

"The second one is in the southern 'Stranglethorn Vale'. It's a jungle area for levels 40-45, where the monsters are mainly beasts and trolls. The spatial fluctuation point is in a ruin called 'Gurubashi Arena'."

"The third one, and the one with the strongest energy reaction, is in the 'Burning Plains' in the east."

Hua Zitong's tone became unusually serious.

"That area is a high-level zone for levels 45-50. The entire plain is a barren wasteland covered by volcanoes and lava. And that spatial fluctuation point is in the center of the Burning Plains, at the foot of a huge volcano called 'Hellfire Fortress'."

"Hellfire Citadel..." Li Wu repeated the name, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Yes." Hua Zitong nodded. "This Hellfire Citadel is the Burning Legion's forward command post in Sector 21. Our ultimate goal is to capture it and defeat the demon overseers stationed inside in order to completely close the invasion passage to Sector 21."

"So, we're going to run into them sooner or later?" Steel Shield asked, stroking his chin.

"That's right," Hua Zitong said. "The problem is, when and how do we touch it?"

"We cannot consider all three points at the same time. We must make choices."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Everyone understood that this was a difficult decision.

Every point of spatial fluctuation is like a time bomb.

If not dealt with in time, thousands upon thousands of demons will emerge from there once the countdown ends.

If we try to deal with it then, the cost will be ten times, or even a hundred times, greater than it is now.

Let me share my thoughts.

He had been silent and unmoved all along, but suddenly he spoke.

As the commander of the second regiment, he was not talkative, but he was meticulous and highly respected in the team.

"The Undead Stronghold in the Blasted Lands and the Gurubashi Arena in Stranglethorn Vale, while dangerous, are relatively low-level and have complex terrain, making them easy targets for us to divide and conquer one by one."

"We can send the main forces of the First and Second Regiments to deal with these two areas respectively. With our current strength, as long as the tactics are appropriate, it shouldn't be a problem to eliminate the threat in these two areas within 24 hours."

"As for the Burning Plains..." His unwavering brow furrowed. "That's a level 50 area, the level difference is too severe. Moreover, Hellfire Citadel, as the enemy's forward command post, definitely has the strongest defenses. If we just charge in now, I'm afraid... we'll suffer heavy losses."

This unwavering analysis has gained the approval of most people.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

The safest approach is to first eliminate the two smaller threats, concentrate our efforts, and then tackle the toughest challenge.

However, Li Wu shook his head.

"Too slow."

He only said three words.

All eyes were on him.

"Our time is running out." Li Wu's voice was calm. "'The Burning Crusade' is a server-wide, competitive event. Its reward distribution depends not only on whether you defended the area, but also on how well you defended it and how efficient you were."

"If we follow the steps and clean them up one by one, even if we succeed in the end, the evaluation we get will only be 'qualified'. What we, the Myth Guild, want is not just 'qualified'."

Li Wu stood up and walked to the magic sandbox.

His eyes gleamed with a light called "ambition".

"What I want is 'perfection'!"

"I want the system to give our performance an 'epic' rating!"

"I want the entire China region, and even the entire 'Origin Realm', to know that there is a guild called 'Myth' in our 21st region!"

His words ignited the passion in everyone present like a flame.

"Then... President, what do you mean?" Steel Shield asked excitedly.

Li Wu's gaze fell on the red dot on the sand table, where the energy reaction was the strongest.

"The troops were divided into three groups."

His voice was resolute and unwavering.

"Immovable as a mountain, you lead the Second Regiment to the Undead Stronghold in the Cursed Lands. The undead monsters there are perfect for your tank gear to shine."

"Your task is not to purge, but to 'delay'. Use your best defense to keep the vanguard of the demons pinned down at the Rotting Scar, and prevent them from taking a single step out of there."

"Yes! Mission accomplished!" The man stood tall and straightened his back, responding loudly.

"Steel Shield, you lead a squad to the Gurubashi Arena in Stranglethorn Vale. The terrain there is suitable for mobile warfare."

"Utilize your mobility, like a sharp dagger, repeatedly penetrate and divide the enemy. Kill as many as you can. For those you can't kill, disrupt them and prevent them from forming an effective organization."

"Understood!" A fighting spirit ignited in Steel Shield's eyes.

"As for me..."

Li Wu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile.

"I'll take a few men and go have a go at that Hellfire Citadel."

"What?!"

These words shocked everyone present.

"No! Guild Master! This is too dangerous!" Steel Shield was the first to object. "That's a level 50 area! You're taking a few people there by yourself, isn't that just suicide?"

"Yes, President, please reconsider!"

"Let us go with you!"

Everyone tried to persuade him.

In their view, Li Wu's decision was simply insane.

Even Hua Zitong, who had always been his biggest supporter, frowned.

"Li Wu, are you sure?" she asked in a deep voice. "The difficulty there may be even greater than we imagined."

"I'm sure." Li Wu's eyes were incredibly firm.

He looked at the crowd and slowly said, "Why do you think I would send you to delay and harass them?"

"Because Hellfire Fortress is the 'heart' of this war."

"To catch a thief, first catch his king; to shoot a man, first shoot his horse. As long as we can take down their command post and kill their leader as quickly as possible, the demons in the other two places will collapse on their own."

"This is the most efficient and the only way to get a 'perfect' rating."

Li Wu's words silenced everyone.

They had to admit that, strategically speaking, Li Wu's approach was correct.

However, the risks involved are simply too great.

"But, Guild Master, even if your strategy is correct, what about our manpower..." Lin Hai whispered a reminder from the side, "The First and Second Regiments have both been sent out, and our guild only has a few core combat members left."

A mysterious smile appeared on Li Wu's face.

He turned his head and looked at Ye Feng, who was standing in the corner without saying a word.

"Night Breeze".

"exist."

"Besides reconnaissance and assassination, is your Shadow Squad any good?"

Ye Feng paused for a moment, then understood what Li Wu meant.

A glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

"We only kill the elite."

"Very good." Li Wu nodded, then looked at another person.

"Ink marks".

"Guild Master." The mage wearing gold-rimmed glasses pushed up his glasses and came out.

"Can your control handle a level 50 demon?"

"Theoretically, given enough time and distance, there's nothing I can't control," Mohen replied confidently.

"very good."

Li Wu's gaze finally landed on Hua Zitong.

"Vice President Hua, would you be willing to accompany me to Hellfire Fortress?"

Hua Zitong looked at him without saying a word.

But her eyes said it all.

"Alright." Li Wu smiled. "Then, our 'decapitation' team is formed."

"Me, Hua Zitong, Ye Feng, Mo Hen, and..."

Li Wu paused for a moment, then uttered the last name, one that surprised everyone.

"Chasing the Wind".

The archer, who had been standing silently at the back of the crowd, looking somewhat inferior, suddenly raised his head, his face filled with disbelief.

"Me...me?"

"Yes, it's you." Li Wu looked at him and said, "I need your eyes."

An incredulous light flashed in Zhui Feng's eyes. He nodded vigorously, his voice trembling with excitement: "Yes! President!"

Thus, the five-person core team heading to Hellfire Citadel was officially formed.

Li Wu glanced at the three flashing red dots on the sand table, then at the four teammates he had personally selected beside him.

"The rest of you will remain at Qianjin Pavilion, under the full command of Lin Hai, who will be responsible for logistics and intelligence support."

"Everyone, set off immediately!"

With Li Wu's command, the Myth Guild's sophisticated war machine began to operate at full speed.

Three teams, three directions—a high-stakes gamble that will determine the fate of District 21 has begun.