After breaking through the defensive line, the Empire's army reached the North Carolina border, only two states away from Washington.
Despite having braced themselves, everyone had underestimated just how shameless the enemy could be.
Not a trace of joy at their victory showed on anyone's face.
At the edge of the city, standing before the bunkers, towers, and trenches were not fully armed American soldiers, but thousands upon thousands of civilians who had been deceived or coerced!!!
White-haired elderly people held rifles, trembling at the very front.
Women carrying babies were forced to inch forward;
Others were filled with regret, muttering about why they had abandoned their perfectly good lives, betrayed their homeland, and sneaked into this country, only to be forced into suicide squads.
Some were even driven mad with fear on the spot, either opening fire indiscriminately or trying to flee.
Bang! Bang! The troops overseeing them from behind dispatched two people with two shots.
"Waaah... Mommy, I want Mommy!"
Even seven- and eight-year-old children had makeshift bombs strapped to them. Their cries spread across the battlefield, wrenching everyone's hearts.
The American soldiers behind them aimed machine guns at the civilians, bellowing for them to charge. Anyone who backed away received a burst of bullets through the back.
"They're using civilians as human shields!" Kyojuro gripped his Nichirin Blade, his teeth grinding audibly.
Tengen's brows knitted tightly as he said in outrage, "What a vile sin... Using the elderly, women, and children as shields! Not even demons would do something like this!"
"Mr. Mifune, what should we do?" Kyojuro asked urgently.
"Tch..." Mifune found it difficult to handle, too. After all, the Empire's laws and His Majesty's policies were clear. Under his old methods, he would have charged in and slaughtered them, civilians or not, but that was