(Heartfelt thanks to 'Lei Xiang', 'Ice Moonshadow', 'Yume no Shouyou', 'That Year's Youthful Recklessness', and 'Sui Feng Qi Wu' for their rewards!)
"Ding—!"
Only after hearing that crisp sound did all the guards present turn their heads toward where it had echoed from.
Then, the guards watched as one of their companions, his face vigilant and completely unaware of what was happening to him, was frozen inside a huge ice flower before he could even react.
At the same time the guards saw their companion turn into a giant ice flower, translucent ice crystals continuously rained down from the sky upon the guards and the Heim Guarder Series Automatons assigned to them.
"Ding—ding—ding—ding—!"
In an instant, clear and ethereal chimes echoed around the entire Academy Headmaster's Residence, vibrating rhythmically through the air like notes in a beautiful melody.
"Ding—ding—ding—ding—!"
Each ringing note was accompanied by the blooming of a giant ice flower. One guard after another, panic written all over their faces, was completely enveloped by the ice flowers blooming upon their bodies. Along with them, Heim Guarder Series Automatons were also transformed into huge ice flowers and frozen within them.
"Enemy... enemy attack—!"
The guards finally understood what was happening and cried out at the top of their lungs.
However, by the time they reacted, it was already far too late.
"Ding—ding—ding—ding—!"
Sheets of ice crystals silently fell onto the guards, accompanied by soft, ethereal chimes. Huge, crystalline ice flowers bloomed one after another, freezing every guard in place.
The guards could only wear expressions of panic, astonishment, and terror as the ice flowers bloomed, freezing them within like specimens. Those vivid expressions remained on their faces, reflected through the translucent flowers.
In less than a minute, every guard and Heim Guarder Series Automaton around the Academy Headmaster's Residence