Death Knights were powerful individuals, but there was a reason that they were called Knights instead of Mages or Sages. While they could use magic to protect and empower themselves against all sort of enemies, they rarely use magic itself to deal the finishing blow.
It was not in their nature and honor to do so, as they were warriors first before being spellcasters. The reverse was true for Death Sages, who were more powerful version of Death Mages.
Sages were the best humanity of this world had to offer in term of spellcasters, and even the weakest Sage was someone to be feared as well as heralded by the masses. And as such, it was unthinkable for a Sage to be transformed into an instrument of Death.
The man who was known as Gerald the Protector was no more. In his place, a loyal servant of Michael was born. He would be known as Gerald the Destroyer, for his reason to exist was to destroy all those who dare to stand up his master and creator.
"It… is overwhelming," Gerald muttered as shadowy aura surrounded him. "So overwhelming!"
His aura exploded, radiating across the entire area and striking fear into all those who were watching his recent transformation. Some still believed that he was still their beloved protector, and they would learn the deadly truth.
"Teacher!" one of the mages hovering above the destroyed walls called out, and despite having never met that person before, Michael knew who that was thanked to the connection between him and his creation. "What have you done to him, you monster!"
Michael simply stood there and watched a powerful lightning bolt descended from the sky with all the intention of striking him. And like an angry hammer, it crashed violently against a barrier that he didn't bother to erect.
The barrier was erected by Gerald.
More magical attacks soon followed the first one, but none of them were able to penetrate the barrier that protected Michael without his say so. Gerald would gladly give his new life for the sake of Michael, as his mind and will were no longer his own.
"Ah. Please forgive the foolishness of my students, great Master," Gerald apologized with a deranged smile upon his lips. "I shall teach them all in your name."
Michael eyed Gerald before nodding in approval. He felt absolutely nothing, as he was an undead with an unrelenting hatred for all living things, especially those who had done him and his little sister wrong.
If his sister had still lived, perhaps, Michael would not directly cause the downfall of the Holy City and all of its inhabitants. But she had not lived. She had died. Died despite his sacrifice for the sake of her wellbeing.
Of course, Michael knew that she was not really his sister, as he was not really Eric Cromwell, but that did not really matter in the end, for he was Michael and Eric at the moment.
With the granted permission from Michael, Gerald immediately dropped the magical barrier that was protecting him and Michael against his former students. They could still be considered as his students, as his new allegiance did not his change his right as a teacher.
And as a teacher, he shall discipline his student for raising their hands against him and his master.
With a wave of his hand, countless magical circles formed in air, and within the next moment, untold number of fire and ice bolts lance out, hammering against the mages in the sky.
Their magic shield managed to resist a little before being shredded by the incoming projectiles.
And without their protective shield, their body took on the full force of the attack. Many died instantly, falling into the ground in little pieces. Some managed to survive the onslaught with utter fear on their faces.
"Remarkable! Remarkable! I have taught you all well for you to have survived that," Gerald called out with maddening laughers. He was a very outgoing mage when he was human, and thanked to Michael, this personality of his had become twisted.
That was not Michael's intention, for it was a natural result of the transformation.
"Now, next lesson," Gerald called out as more magical circles formed around him. This time, beam of darkness lanced out, striking each one of the mages, causing them to be torched by black flames. Their screams joined the maddening laughter from Gerald. "Hahaha!"
Michael turned his attention away from Gerald and at the defenders on the walls. He raised his finger towards them, and dozen of his Death Knights blasted forwards, running up the walls and descending on the defenders.
In an instant, all the defenders were killed and turned into undead.
Michael jumped onto the wall and looked at the city below. There were a lot of people gathering down there with their weapons drawn. They would fight to the bitter end, and he had no time to see them do so.
He raised his hand and crushed it, instantly crushing thousands of hearts through his magic. Thousands of lives were snuffed out in an instant, and in their place, thousands of his minion were born. He also gained thousands of Greater Mortal Souls.
Of course, there were those who managed to resist his spell, and they were promptly defeated by his Death Knights before being brought to him battered and bruised.
Michael did not deal the final blow either. Instead, he overwhelmed their mind and spirit with his own and then transformed them into more of his Death Knights.
Once Gerald had murdered the last of his students, he joined Michael behind the walls.
"Go. Bring me your colleagues and friends. Those who called themselves Sages, righteous and true. It is time for them to learn that is only one truth in this life, and that is I has come for all," Michael gave his order to Gerald.
And the man immediately obeyed, and he headed towards the Sage Tower. In life, he might be one of the weakest Sage, but in death, he was more than a match for several powerful Sages.
Michael did not assault the Sage Tower directly himself, as he was building up his undead legion, and soon, he would march onto the tower with overwhelming force.
It was the only way to make those Sages at the tower to finally act.