Deathfire Salvo

Alexander Hayes's marksmanship was impeccable, rivaling that of a legendary sharpshooter.

Charles Zhao let out a terrified scream and collapsed backward onto the ground. His trusted aides nearby were startled, wondering why their patriarch had suddenly fallen.

The loyal aide rushed over to help the House Patriarch, only to be horrified to discover that his face had been struck by a hidden weapon—his features were blasted apart, blood and brain matter spraying everywhere!

Alexander Hayes watched the scene coldly, blowing on the smoking barrel of his pistol. He said to Sean Hayes, "Kill them all."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Sean Hayes accepted the order.

After giving the order, Alexander Hayes turned and descended from the wall. Sean Hayes watched his retreating figure, sensing that Alexander Hayes was completely unconcerned about the outcome of the battle.

Or perhaps, he already knew the outcome—there was nothing to worry about.

Sean Hayes glanced back at the Zhao family soldiers clustered below the courtyard wall. With both Charles Zhao and Justin Zhao gone, they were leaderless, running around like headless chickens.

Sean Hayes gave the order: "Firestorm Battalion, First Squad, open fire! Firestorm Battalion, Second Squad, prepare to reload!"

At this moment, the Zhao family soldiers were in disarray. One of Charles Zhao's trusted aides quickly stepped up to act as a temporary commander, urging everyone to avenge the House Patriarch and the County Governor.

Just as the Zhao family soldiers regrouped and prepared to attack, a series of strange, synchronized blasts rang out from atop the wall, sounding eerily like firecrackers.

Almost immediately, the Zhao soldiers watched in horror as many of their comrades collapsed for no reason, their bodies riddled with bloody holes—most dying on the spot!

"What kind of hidden weapon is this?!" Panic erupted among the Zhao troops. That volley of firecracker-like blasts from the Black-armored Qin Army had wiped out nearly ten thousand men in an instant!

In the blink of an eye, the Zhao soldiers suffered devastating losses. Bodies lay everywhere, and the wounded who survived screamed in agony, their cries chilling to the bone.

"Firestorm Battalion, Team Two—fire! Team One—reload!" Sean Hayes's commanding voice rang out again.

The Zhao soldiers heard that terrifying, deadly firecracker sound once more!

In another instant, over a thousand more Zhao soldiers fell to the ground!

Catching their breath, the Zhao troops realized they'd already lost a third of their force—without even touching the Black-armored Qin Army, let alone figuring out what weapon was being used against them.

This... this is terrifying!

A wave of panic swept through the Zhao ranks. No one wanted to fight anymore; all they could think about was fleeing from that deadly firecracker barrage.

In an instant, the Zhao soldiers scattered in all directions, trampling each other in their desperate escape. Some who survived the gunfire were crushed to death in the chaos.

Sean Hayes watched the Zhao troops descend into utter disorder, continuing to calmly and methodically command the Firestorm Battalion.

"...Fire! ...Reload!"

Each time Sean Hayes's voice rang out, it sounded like a death sentence to the Zhao soldiers.

They no longer cared about attacking the County Governor's mansion—all they wanted was to run, to get as far away from that murderous firecracker weapon as possible.

But no matter how fast they ran, the bullets were faster.

Countless men were struck down by bullets as they tried to flee.

In just the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea, the bodies of tens of thousands of Zhao soldiers filled the square and streets in front of the County Governor's mansion.

The sun rose, bathing the earth in light, which glinted off the fresh blood and gave the scene a sickly sheen.

Sean Hayes surveyed the field of corpses and let out a long sigh.

The Zhao family, the head of the Southeast Big Four, had suffered catastrophic losses in this battle at the County Governor's mansion. Their strength was spent; it would be a long time before they dared challenge the King of Qin again.

Looking at the gun in his hand, Sean Hayes suddenly understood what Alexander Hayes meant when he said, "A mighty dragon doesn't bow to a local tyrant—unless it's not a true dragon."