"Die, damned Russians!" The heavy machine gun of the Austro-Hungarian army was firing furiously.
The industrial might of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was commendable, and their military products boasted exceptional performance. Although their heavy machine guns could not rival the general-purpose models used by the Germans, they were at least of a world-class standard.
The torrent of bullets rained down upon the Russian forces like a torrential downpour. The tightly packed Russian troops, advancing in formation, became prime targets for the heavy machine guns. Groups of Russian soldiers fell under the relentless fire, as if they were wheat being harvested.
"Ura! Ura!"
The Russian charge surged forward with an indomitable spirit. Despite their rudimentary equipment, they charged fearlessly. This tactic often intimidated their opponents, leading to victories in battle.
However, this time, the Russian assault seemed less effective. The Austro-Hungarian soldiers across the line appeared undaunted, retaliating with formidable firepower.
As a result, Russian casualties began to escalate rapidly.
"Bang!"
A sharp gunshot rang out, and a Russian soldier, struck in the chest, collapsed to the ground mid-charge.
In the Austro-Hungarian trenches, a young soldier pulled back the bolt of his rifle, chambering another round. Initially, his face reflected sheer terror, but gradually he began to conquer his fears, fighting with calm resolve.
Many Austro-Hungarian soldiers underwent a transformation during the battle. The Russian charge had frightened them considerably, with many nearly fleeing in panic. However, under the stern watch of the military police, they dared not abandon their positions and pressed on, steeling themselves for the fight. Soon, they realized that the Russian offensive, while daunting in spirit, possessed no unique advantages; they were human too, susceptible to bullets. Once they overcame their fears, they could defeat their adversaries.
This shift led to a gradual resurgence in the morale of the Austro-Hungarian troops.
Upon noticing this change, the frontline commanders let out sighs of relief. No one wished to suffer defeat, especially after their prior losses to the Russians, which had been deeply frustrating. It wasn't that their soldiers were inferior, nor that their weaponry lacked quality; rather, they had succumbed to fear. Now, having conquered that fear, they finally began to demonstrate their rightful fighting spirit.
With the Austro-Hungarian morale rising, their defenses stabilized. This was not favorable news for the attacking Russians.
"Damn it! How can their firepower be so formidable?" General Rusky was taken aback by the sight before him. Previously, the Austro-Hungarians had been easily overwhelmed. Yet now, they appeared as if they were an entirely different army! Such a transformation was hard to comprehend.
"General, are we not battling the Austro-Hungarian army but the Germans instead? Otherwise, how could their combat effectiveness have improved so dramatically?" a lieutenant general inquired.
"Germans? How could that be? Setting aside the fact that the Germans are currently engaging the Fourth Army, even if they were involved, they would not merely remain on the defensive; they would have launched their own offensive. If the Germans were to attack, could we withstand their advance?" Rusky shook his head.
The other Russian commanders nodded in agreement. Indeed, the Germans were significantly more formidable. If they were facing the Germans, the roles of attacker and defender would have been reversed long ago.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shells exploded among the ranks of the Russians, shredding countless soldiers into pieces.
"Da-da-da!"
The concentrated fire from the Austro-Hungarian light and heavy machine guns mercilessly claimed the lives of the advancing Russian soldiers.
Under the weight of the Austro-Hungarian firepower, the Russians suffered catastrophic losses. Despite their bravery in battle, the sight of comrades falling one after another could extinguish even the fiercest courage.
Faced with such staggering losses, the first wave of the Russian offensive had no choice but to retreat. Countless Russian soldiers turned to flee, their speed far surpassing that of their earlier advance.
"Long live! Long live! We have defeated the Russians!"
As the Russians fled, cheers erupted along the Austro-Hungarian defensive line. Soldiers shouted in jubilation; it had been a long time since they had experienced such a victory.
"It seems the Russians are not invincible after all. Previously, we were merely intimidated by them. Now we understand; the Russians are nothing but paper tigers, lacking real terror," a young Austro-Hungarian soldier remarked.
"Ha! So the Russians are so easily defeated. From now on, we need not fear them at all," echoed voices throughout the ranks.
Through this engagement, the previously demoralized Austro-Hungarian soldiers rapidly regained their spirits.
"Scoundrels! In half an hour, we will resume our attack. Even if those Austro-Hungarian cowards have transformed, we can still defeat them!" General Rusky commanded through gritted teeth.
He knew that this battle would not proceed as smoothly as they had anticipated. However, there was no retreat; they had no choice but to press on.
"Yes, General!"
Not only was the offensive of the Third Army faltering, but the Eighth and Eleventh Armies also faced fierce retaliation. The Austro-Hungarian defenses seemed to have transformed overnight into an impregnable fortress. Those who had previously been demoralized and could have been easily overwhelmed by a Russian charge appeared rejuvenated, their fighting spirit greatly enhanced.
This made the Russians suffer significant losses against the strengthened Austro-Hungarian lines.
Despite launching multiple subsequent assaults, the Russians were still unable to breach the Austro-Hungarian defenses. While their attacks did inflict some casualties on the Austro-Hungarians, overall, the Russians bore the greater toll. More crucially, after this fierce battle, the morale of the Austro-Hungarian soldiers had been revitalized. Faced with superior weaponry and lacking any significant numerical advantage, the Russians' task of breaking through the Austro-Hungarian lines became exceedingly daunting.