This way, I could complete a task and also check on Baili Jinxuan and the others, and remind them not to choose the Phantom Maze shop for their outing.
Liu Yi walked to the Task Hall's front desk and showed her Junior Beast Tamer badge to the staff member.
"Hello, I'd like to accept the E-rank Task 'Investigation of Pet Abnormalities within the Phantom Maze facility'," Liu Yi said.
The staff member checked and nodded, "Alright, no one has accepted this task yet. Please confirm the task details."
Liu Yi quickly scanned the task details displayed on the electronic screen, and after confirming everything, swiped her Beast Tamer badge on the device provided by the staff member.
The staff member said, "Please return here to submit your report after completing the task. I wish you success."
Walking out of the Beast Tamer Association, Liu Yi took out her phone and sent messages in the four-person group chat.
【Yi: I accepted a task that's located at the Phantom Maze in the Pet Leisure Plaza. When you go there, please temporarily avoid this shop.】
【Zimeng's Dream: Huh? Something's wrong with the Phantom Maze?】
【The Beautiful Master of Cute Shadow: We're just about to head out! Want to come with us?】
【Green Lamp with Clouds: Is the task dangerous?】
【Yi: The task description states pet abnormalities within the facility, and it's classified as a Junior Beast Tamer task, so there shouldn't be much danger.】
【Yi: I'll go to the Phantom Maze to check things out first. You guys can head to Polar Ice Dessert Shop when you arrive, and I'll find you after I finish the task.】
【The Beautiful Master of Cute Shadow: Alright then, we'll wait for you at the dessert shop! Be careful!】
【Zimeng's Dream: Same here!】
【Green Lamp with Clouds: Keep in touch.】
Putting away her phone, Liu Yi took Ziyue and Chiying and boarded public transport heading to the Pet Leisure Plaza.
Twenty minutes later, at the Pet Leisure Plaza.
It was as lively as ever here, with sculptures of various pets adorning the massive archway at the entrance.
Following the signs, Liu Yi quickly found the Phantom Maze shop.
It was a uniquely shaped building, its exterior walls painted a psychedelic purple, and a woman in a work uniform stood at the entrance.
"Hello, I'm the Beast Tamer who accepted the investigation task." Liu Yi showed her Junior Beast Tamer badge and the successful task acceptance page displayed simultaneously on the Beast Tamer Association APP.
The staff member's eyes lit up. "Excellent! I'm Deng Tianhe, the maze manager. I didn't expect the Association to send someone so quickly."
She led Liu Yi into the staff passage, explaining as they walked, "Over the past week, the Psychic-type pets working in our maze have started exhibiting abnormalities."
"Originally, they only created harmless illusions to confuse visitors and pets coming to play, but recently, several visitors reported that the illusions have become too realistic, even a little scary for people and pets."
"Has there been any physical harm?" Liu Yi asked.
"No, not physical harm, but several children have been scared to tears." Deng Tianhe gave a wry smile. "We've checked all the equipment linked to the pets, and found no issues. The boss said it might be a problem with the Psychic-type pets themselves, requiring a more professional Beast Tamer to take a look."
She pushed open a door. Inside was a monitoring room, where over a dozen screens on the wall displayed real-time footage of various areas of the maze.
"This is our Phantom Moon Fox, the maze's main 'performer'." Deng Tianhe pointed to an elegant white fox on the central screen. "It's been working here for two years and has always been very stable."
Liu Yi carefully observed the Phantom Moon Fox. It was quietly lying on a platform, resting with its eyes closed.
From its appearance, there was indeed nothing abnormal.
"Can I go in directly and take a look?" Liu Yi asked.
Deng Tianhe replied, "Of course, but there are a few visitors in the maze right now. Should we clear them out first?"
Liu Yi shook her head. "No need. It might be easier to observe the abnormalities with visitors present."
"Alright, please follow me."
At the maze entrance, three families were still waiting in line with their pets.
Deng Tianhe briefly explained the situation to them, stating that they needed to enter and inspect the facilities, and visitors could choose to continue playing, but would need to sign a waiver.
"It's the Silver Snow Fox and the Moling Dragon!" A little girl recognized Liu Yi, excitedly tugging on her mother's sleeve. "Mom, it's the Longwu High School Entrance Tournament Champion!"
Liu Yi nodded to the girl, then led Ziyue and Chiying into the maze.
Inside the maze, the lighting was dim, with color-changing fluorescent stones embedded in the walls, creating a dreamy atmosphere.
A faint scent of Honeyed Orchid drifted in the air, a plant fragrance known to relax pets, and soft purple carpets covered the floor.
"Ziyue, pay attention to any mental waves around us," Liu Yi instructed softly. "Chiying, use your eyes to see if you can penetrate the illusions."
"Bingbing."
Ziyue twitched her ears.
"Moling."
Chiying's crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dim environment.
Turning the first corner, the passage ahead suddenly twisted and deformed, with countless eyes appearing on the walls, staring at them in unison.
"Ah!" A little girl's scream came from behind. "Mommy, it's so scary!"
Liu Yi looked back and saw the mother and daughter watching the scene in terror.
This was clearly not a normal maze experience.
"Ziyue."
She motioned for Ziyue to step forward, while Liu Yi crouched down and told the little girl, "Don't be scared, these are all fake."
Ziyue walked forward, passing through the illusion of eyes, proving they couldn't cause actual harm.
"So amazing..." The little girl stopped crying and looked at Ziyue with admiration.
Liu Yi continued forward, while paying attention to the abnormalities around her.
The Phantom Maze was designed to create a fun sense of disorientation through gentle illusions, but the illusions appearing now clearly contained malice and elements of fear.
After turning a few more corners, Liu Yi found that the illusions were becoming increasingly realistic and terrifying.
Once, a wall of fire even appeared, with heat waves rushing towards them. Ziyue and Chiying immediately shielded her, but found that the flames couldn't burn them.
"This isn't a normal illusion." Liu Yi frowned. "The Phantom Moon Fox's mental power is being affected by something."
Just then, a sharp fox howl suddenly echoed from the passage ahead, followed by visitors' screams.
"Hurry!" Liu Yi quickly ran towards the sound with Ziyue and Chiying.
At the end of the passage was a circular hall. On the central platform, the formerly elegant Phantom Moon Fox now had its fur bristling, eyes bloodshot, surrounded by a swirling vortex of distorted illusions.
A pair of young sisters cautiously huddled in a corner. The older sister tried to protect her younger sister with her Rock-armored Turtle, but the Rock-armored Turtle was also affected by the illusions and remained withdrawn into its shell.
"Ziyue, Extreme Cold Storm."
Ziyue immediately unleashed an ice and snow storm, controlling the low temperature and pure Ice-type energy to instantly suppress the chaotic mental waves.
The illusionary vortex began to destabilize, but the Phantom Moon Fox's abnormal state did not subside.
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