When did the war at the Maginot Line happen?

It seemed like a somewhat metaphysical question, as by the time everyone realized, the entire line was already filled with enemies.

The clamor of gunfire tore through the waiting silence, and the incessant booming of heavy artillery symbolized that the time of trial had arrived.

This is a test of iron and fire.

It’s like throwing everyone into a blazing forge, where only by enduring the scorching flames and hammering can you be forged into refined steel, or otherwise, fall into oblivion, awaiting a bleak future.

The segment of the line closest to the Polluted Swamp was attacked first. It stood in the middle like a wall wedged between rolling hills, using an abandoned pit as its main defense. The Stonemason Association designed three bastions occupying the high ground, and the Earth Priests of the Silver Fort meticulously reshaped the terrain here during a preparation period of more than three months.

The Gnolls needed to cross several kilometers of trenches separated by barbed wire, then charge up the exposed hills before they could reach the main line. Waiting for them was a barrage from three lines of artillery positions and a line manned by seven thousand soldiers of the Cadman People’s Army.

Sir Murphy set up a resurrection point here, meaning that the Gnolls also had to endure the "trial" of Undying Spirits while being heavily battered by local soldiers.

Commander Kuder, having soaked up quite a bit from the history and isekai sections on the forums, had learned the basics of fire superiority theory. During a morning’s attack, he didn’t send out even one unit; instead, he ordered the Winter Wolf artillery stationed here to bombard the front lines without regard for cost.

The Gnolls were dumbfounded by the bombardment.

They suffered thousands of Kobold casualties and still couldn’t break through the foremost trench zone. On the other hand, the newbies in the trenches had plenty of time to experience the realism and thrill of this ghostly game.

These newbies are truly "newbie" in every sense of the word.

They were complete newcomers who had entered the game just the day before. Perhaps to synchronize with the overture of the Maginot showdown, the development team distributed 500 helmets in one go yesterday, and two-thirds of these newbies were thrown here.

They followed the People’s Army veterans through the trenches, giving the Gnolls and Gnolls charging up a hard time with their bayonet-equipped replica Mosin Nagant rifles when they approached.

"Hey, has this ghostly game always been this thrilling?

I thought the development team, for better publicity, put some kind of ghostly filter on the tavern livestreams, editing the highlights to stir emotions. But it turns out those damn UP hosts don’t cut a single frame!"

At this moment, the newbie "Blind Eagle," waiting in the trench for this round of shelling to end, hugged his gun and complained to his nearby companion "Troublesome Horse," who was chewing on jerky:

"I’ve used up a year’s worth of adrenaline in this morning’s battle, damn, I feel like I’ve transcended to a WWI battlefield, except the enemies are ugly Gnolls and Gnolls. It’s just like classic trench warfare."

"Shut up, save your energy, those bastards will come back after this shelling ends."

Troublesome Horse was a short but robust guy.

He was performing much better than the other newbies in the trench, not because he had really seen combat, but due to his special profession—he was a boxer and allegedly even competed.

Indeed, he was one of the fighters Teacher Li invited through the martial artist circle, just that his luck was poor, and he only got into the game now.

Half an hour ago, after he used a big axe to kill several half-dead Gnolls, he became the "top dog" among these newbies, and his words carried a lot more weight.

"Everyone’s used to basic operations by now, so I won’t say much. Don’t jump out of the trench and charge forward recklessly later. The ten or so brothers who died should have taught everyone to be cautious; we’re not invincible Fortmans in this ghost game.

We need to learn to start from being a regular soldier!"

Amidst the noisy shelling, Troublesome Horse had to shout at the top of his lungs for the surrounding newbies to hear him.

He yelled:

"Obey orders, follow commands—do exactly what the veterans in the trench tell us to do when things start again later. Take this chance to practice real combat. Just like the guiding posts on the forum, start working on basic skills according to your career path now!

Gather all the explosives you were issued and hand them over to the brothers who are good at throwing.

The melee specialists group up with me; the shooting experts go find ’Broken Spine Dog.’ Those interested in the Psychic path should stay put and just use ranged skills.

Hey, brother, what’s up with you?

Why are you trembling like that?

Are you serious, you’re scared of playing a game?"

"I... I’m not scared!"

The newbie, who got a playful pat from Troublesome Horse, shouted with a stiff neck, but his continuously trembling body betrayed him.

This guy was quite unusual, maintaining his original appearance in-game while others tried to look imposing, appearing mild-mannered but already a middle-aged man.

He was there with a steel helmet, holding a gun, but didn’t exhibit the demeanor of a soldier at all.