"All warriors, listen to my command! Kill! Leave no one alive!"

As Li Yi gave the order, the soldiers of the Fire Seed Battle Group, armed with various weapons and firearms, marched in orderly steps, approaching the Christians in the center from all directions around the square.

The cold muzzle of the gun gleamed with a deadly light, like the scythe of death, foreshadowing the impending bloody massacre.

The high-ranking leaders of the Fireseed on the central platform watched all this with indifference. Their eyes showed no pity, only absolute obedience to Li Yi's orders and contempt for these people.

Some even wore gloating smiles, as if they were enjoying a good show about to unfold.

"Brothers, do not be afraid! We will either erupt in silence or perish in silence! Give me liberty or give me death! A little sacrifice can bring peace and freedom to future generations. This is worth fighting for and striving for!" someone shouted.

"To die is an honor, to live is a disgrace! For the light and justice on this land, let us fight side by side until the very last moment!" At this moment, they knew that begging for mercy was meaningless, and the other side would not show any mercy.

Sometimes, it's all about sheer willpower, like a dam about to collapse. Before it breaks, not a single drop of water will cross the line, but once the dam falls, the flood will be unstoppable!

The fighting spirit of the grassroots people was completely ignited. They were no longer afraid because they knew that this struggle was not only for themselves, but also for all the oppressed people and for that distant and bright future.

Of course, not all fund investors have such a death-defying determination.

Among these nearly 500,000 fund investors, a quarter still harbor a glimmer of hope for the Fireseed Base.

Some even thought that if they chose to stand with the Fire Seed Base and the leader at this time, they would surely be given important responsibilities in the future.

After all, there are so many rebels. After these people die, the base will definitely recruit new people. At that time, these people will become the new backbone of the base and enjoy power and glory.

They all wanted a better life, but they chose completely different paths.

They believed that by being obedient and loyal, they could gain the protection and favor of the Fireseed Base, thus surviving the storm and possibly even gaining higher status and power.

So, almost at the same time, those who were considering leaving and wanted to show their loyalty to Li Yi shouted, "Great leader, we support you! Long live the leader!"

"Sir, we are law-abiding citizens! Please don't shoot!"

They shouted as they rushed out of the crowd, trying to distance themselves from the protesters to avoid being "accidentally killed."

"Da da da da da~"

The only response they received was a series of gunshots.

The militiamen surrounding this area didn't distinguish between surrender and resistance; their goal was to clear out all the Christians in the square and ensure the orders were carried out thoroughly.

In the eyes of the Fireseed Chapter, anyone standing in the square is a potential threat and must be eliminated.

This is the most direct and effective means to ensure the absolute rule and order of the Fire Seed Base.

Blood quickly stained the square, and cries, screams, roars, and gunshots mingled together, creating a tragic and cruel symphony.

Fortunately, these dead people were just some speculators among the fund investors.

This bought time for Chen Yu and his men. His Imperial Guards quickly dug bulletproof shields out of the snow and arranged them into an impregnable defensive line.

Their movements were practiced and swift, as if they had rehearsed countless times.

"Da da da da da~"

"Jingle bells~"

Gunfire rained down like a storm, but the bullets only sparked a few flecks against the bulletproof shield, unable to penetrate its sturdy defenses.

"Huh~?" Everyone at the Fire Seed Base, including Li Yi, was dumbfounded when they saw the "Imperial Guards" digging out bulletproof shields in the snow around the square.

When were these bulletproof shields buried in the square?

These Imperial Guards were surprisingly skilled, as if they had long anticipated this day and were well-prepared.

Li Yi and the others realized that Qian Peng's actions were not spur-of-the-moment, but rather premeditated!

The other side has long harbored rebellious intentions, and it's even possible that this riot by the fund investors was secretly planned by them!

A cold glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes; he realized he had been deeply deceived.

He trusted Qian Peng so much that he entrusted him with the task of establishing the new Imperial Guard. Little did he know that the other party had been taking advantage of his trust to secretly plot a rebellion!

"Haha~! Good, good!" Li Yi laughed angrily, his voice carrying an undisguised chill. "Qian Peng, you've been hiding your ambitions really well. I never even noticed them."

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force, and his eyes flashed with a cold killing intent.

“However, you were too hasty. If you had been more patient, you might have actually gained the upper hand,” Li Yi said coldly. “But right now, in my eyes, your men are nothing but chickens and dogs!”

"Charge! Eliminate all these traitors and mobs!" Li Yi shouted, his voice echoing across the square, filled with unquestionable authority.

In Li Yi's view, the Imperial Guards only had a few hundred soldiers and were severely lacking in firearms and ammunition. How could they possibly compete with his fully-equipped "Torchbearer" force of over 5,000 men?

Even though their bulletproof shields could offer some protection against intense fire, it was nothing more than a desperate attempt to prolong their lives in the face of overwhelming numbers and firepower.

The high-ranking officials of the Fireseed Base and the warriors of the "Fireseed Battle Group" shared the same view, their faces showing contempt and disdain. They believed that this was nothing more than a desperate struggle by a cornered beast.

With this in mind, the Fire Seed warriors launched an even fiercer attack, unleashing bullets they usually wouldn't use as if they were free, each one carrying deadly malice, attempting to completely destroy the "Imperial Guard's" defenses.

They even brought in heavy artillery, attempting to blast open the Imperial Guard's defenses with fierce fire.

However, at that moment, a dense buzzing sound came from the sky.

Almost everyone looked up at the same time and saw countless black dots flying towards the square from all directions.

That was a swarm of drones, so numerous that it blotted out the sky, like a dark cloud pressing in.

Li Yi was horrified upon seeing this, and his expression changed drastically.

He knew that these drone swarms were definitely not there to support him, so the answer was obvious.