“YVLY means that one allows oneself to be murdered rather than transgress, not that one is “supposed to die”.”
No, yehareig means “be killed” not “be murdered.” There are various cases given of being killed rather than transgress, such as dying of lovesickness or whatever rather than have some sort of contact with a woman, dying of thirst rather than bending down (bowing) to drink from water in front of avodah zara, etc.