65: Chapter 66 The Flesh and Blood Grinder, codenamed "Showdown"

The Great Man's declaration was like a strong stimulant injected into the veins of five hundred million players.

The entire player base's spirit underwent a complete transformation.

The forums were no longer filled with complaints about the technological gap in weaponry; instead, they were dominated by hardcore tactical discussions.

"Terrain analysis of the Battle of Triangle Hill: These two hills support each other; both must be defended simultaneously!"

"The US military's advantage is artillery fire; we must dig our tunnels deep, turning them into an underground Great Wall!"

"Recruit demolitions experts! Suicide squads! This time, we won't compete with marksmanship; we'll compete with lives!"

The former keyboard warriors, having endured the ice and snow of Chosin Lake, the artillery fire of Iron Field, and the baptism of the Great Man's declaration, had quietly transformed into a real army.

They no longer treated this as a game, but as a War of Resistance they absolutely had to win.

Su Yun observed the soaring 'Awakening Value' in the backend and knew the time was ripe.

He intended to conduct the cruelest stress test on this small patch of hilltop, tempering the mettle of these young people completely into steel.

Inside the game, the new war mobilization had begun.

Jack, Brother Bao, and Dai Dai, as the highest-level players on the server, were appointed as temporary commanders and participated in a pre-battle conference personally hosted by the system NPC—Commander Qin Qijiwei of the Volunteer Army's 15th Army.

The meeting was held in a simple air-raid shelter, the atmosphere heavy as iron.

Qin Qijiwei's virtual image was constructed one-to-one based on historical data; his weather-beaten face betrayed no emotion, only a mountain-like steadiness.

"Comrades," he pointed to the two unremarkable hill mounds on the sand table, "the enemy has given our operation the codename 'Showdown Operation.'"

"Their objective is clear: to use absolutely superior firepower to seize Hill 597.9 and Hill 537.7 in the shortest possible time, completely driving us away from the negotiating table."

He picked up a twig and drew lines representing US artillery positions on the sand table in red; those red lines were dense, like a giant spider web, completely encircling the two small hills.

"According to intelligence, the enemy has amassed over three hundred large-caliber artillery pieces, more than one hundred tanks, and an uncountable number of aircraft."

"They plan to pour over 300,000 shells and 500 aerial bombs onto this area of only 3.7 square kilometers within twenty-four hours."

The numbers were spoken one after another from Qin Qijiwei's mouth, and every number felt like a massive boulder pressing down on everyone's chest.

3.7 square kilometers.

300,000 shells.

This meant that the average square meter of land would have to endure the baptism of nearly one hundred shells.

This was an unprecedented density of firepower in the history of human warfare.

"This isn't fighting anymore," Brother Bao looked at the sand table, his voice somewhat dry, "this is physically leveling the hill."

Qin Qijiwei glanced at him and nodded: "Therefore, surface defense has lost its meaning. Our only path to survival lies underground."

He pointed to the sand table: "Our mission is to complete the final construction of the tunnel network before the enemy's 'Showdown.'"

"Furthermore, in the ensuing battle, no matter how many times the ground positions are lost during the day, they must be retaken by night! Not yielding an inch!"

When the meeting concluded, a system announcement echoed across the entire server.

[Volume Three Ultimate Battle: Battle of Triangle Hill]

[Battle Mode: Meat Grinder]

[Victory Condition: Hold the position for forty-three days until the enemy gives up the offensive.]

[Warning: This is no longer a game; this is a real meat grinder. It is not too late to withdraw now.]

Not a single player chose to withdraw.

Jack, in front of his screen, calmly polished a dagger while looking at the cruel rules, then shaved the little bit of hair he had managed to grow back into a buzz cut.

Dai Dai sorted and packaged all the medical supplies; her eyes held no fear, only a resolute determination as if she were preparing to walk to the execution ground.

The final preparation time passed in oppressive silence.

All players were frantically digging tunnels, moving ammunition, and reinforcing fortifications.

They knew that when the first ray of sunlight illuminated the hilltop, hell would descend.

Dawn arrived as scheduled.

There was no gunfire, no artillery fire; the world was utterly silent.

On the distant horizon, a faint red glow lit up, turning the sky like a red-hot branding iron.

Jack stood at the tunnel entrance, squinting at the red glow.

He knew that was not the rising sun.

That was the muzzle flash created when the US military's more than three hundred artillery pieces fired simultaneously.

The next second.

A shell whizzed toward them.

It was not aimed at any specific target, merely striking randomly on the main peak of Hill 597.9.

Boom!

With a massive explosion, an entire squad of soldiers, along with their bunker, was instantly blown into the sky, turning into a cloud of bloody mist and rubble.

The screen went quiet at that moment.

As if holding a brief moment of silence for the impending destruction.

Immediately after.

As if receiving the order for a general assault, the red glow on the horizon suddenly surged, and thousands of shells, trailing long flames, tore through the sky like a meteor shower from hell, covering the entire firmament.

The sharp whistling sounds merged into a continuous roar capable of tearing eardrums.

The world, at this moment, lost all sound and color.

Only destruction remained.

The Battle of Triangle Hill officially commenced with a scene resembling the end of the world.