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將主角等一行人困在山壁上小平臺上的號角獸人，逼得主角等一群人只好鑽進平臺上的一個小地洞去。
塔庫魯才剛鑽進左側那邊滿是高約兩公尺的雜草平臺時，就看見草叢中兩對彎曲如號角般的巨角晃動。他不假思索地猛然揮斧，鐵斧挾帶著呼嘯勁風，兩名尚未察覺異狀的號角獸人便已應聲倒斃於草間。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQI2oMRZ0o
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhWef0SQN6
穿過草叢，塔庫魯抵達另一側的平台邊緣，正遇見一名手持鐵叉的號角獸人從山壁躍來，鐵叉直刺他的胸膛。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpo6sB83xs
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljP5yfCHJd
幸而塔庫魯反應神速，長柄鐵斧斜劈，架開攻勢，隨即猛力一腳將對方踹下山崖。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK3IM3kIRt
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXuzX3pmLe
一聲淒厲的「啊——」在山谷間回蕩，塔庫魯已瞥見山壁上還有五、六個號角獸人，正攀爬而來。但此刻，所有獸人都暫時停頓，轉而目送那名摔落同伴的身影，神情驚駭。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6NJJZYqa3
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w94WDh4xC
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlwmBRMD7L
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrdKOUvBtR
這時，女兵露西與派緹迅速從草叢中竄出，搭弓連發，箭如驟雨，數名攀爬中的獸人紛紛中箭墜落，重重摔下山谷。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fwBNFUwkn
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSFwRhancR
夸斯特快步趕來，看了看情勢，低聲道：「我們得躲進草叢中固守。在這裸露的山壁上，無法與他們周旋！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdk6r24jpCM
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEBOvwtyZB
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSUXTUj0kI
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkOSj6fbtE
剛才連番箭雨讓敵方士氣受挫，其餘號角獸人退到約五十公尺外的山壁凹陷處，隱身岩石之後，與他們隔空對峙。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbgSJ6HKxW
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtxPem4OEJ
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXEWVMkfi5
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDCyP83o3B
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu9uCyXutB
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoMaje6IEu
平台的正上方是近乎光滑的垂直山壁，即便號角獸人擅長攀爬，也無法從此處來發起垂降攻擊；若當真要想強行攀越，只怕是通通要墜落到下方成為一灘肉泥。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92SIggiiCy
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkRUYiHtTQ
塔庫魯等人分守四方，將公主護於內側山壁邊。其間，敵人曾兩度試圖自高處擲石砸殺塔庫魯——20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfhFr0Xq1M
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY4gEu4cpi
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO3Uf4EtKx
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjimyfcIbS
第二次，體積較小的石塊則被他當場一斧劈碎，碎石如雨，轟然滑落谷底，聲勢浩大。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhGHxK9RSI
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A28zjkKfu
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWbA5jMcD0
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1nQ6diNZG
僵持過了近一個時辰。幸好，這群號角獸人腦筋死板，未曾想到以火攻逼迫。否則，躲藏在草叢中的眾人，恐怕早已葬身火海。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfOmLKWYto
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fAkV8lPvZ
蓋達忍不住低聲嘀咕了一句，公主聽後笑著解釋道：「獸人對火懷有極深的敬畏之心。他們信奉火焰是毀滅與重生的化身，不敢輕啟山林之火，以免焚毀世代棲身之地。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BBzdPRmF7
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqu4P8Zdts
艾利歐特守在小徑旁，聽了會心一笑：「這習慣，真是救了我們一命。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjgWyDdS6y
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoMSCDXTNn
公主接著說：「這片大地有八座火炎山，年年輪流噴發。獸人們與火山為鄰，自小便懂得對火心存敬畏。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR2FMb9fEH
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJgOIgRbF3
蓋達皺眉問道：「為什麼八座火山都叫火炎山？不個別為其取名？這樣難道不會搞混嗎？」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEC9ZFVsog
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiDiyl0OVb
公主淺笑回答：「那是獸人們自己命名的。為了區別，我們通常會在前面加上方位，例如這座便是『西南火炎山』。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0QZQ9M9hT
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmGUskf7U6
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRA447Sq4J
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf856Da54mX
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGPEscV70t
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBrd4igcYe
就在此時，派緹突然警覺地盯著一旁的枯草堆，低聲道：「這堆草，有異樣！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5VYZGu2ii
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMgJ5Sr4Lf
夸斯特立刻指示露西護送公主後退。派緹見狀，舉劍挑開枯草，只見下方赫然露出幾根木棍搭起的坑道入口。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMcT6pc7qY
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSgc9NlxVt
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAO6Athz0V
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PHDJW6L8b
夸斯特走近觀察，沉思片刻後道：「應該很久沒有人走動了。公主，我有個大膽的主意……」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtZdk4dslf
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfl05FPJur
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSlaPOKRXm
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6rmX85C5M
夸斯特便下令道：「蓋達打頭陣，艾利歐特緊隨。塔庫魯，你最後進入，記得設法把通道入口掩埋！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouyp3ppCno
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMXmNvPu9J
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxwjk3nK0N
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9LWlrrNZD
眾人小心準備下洞時，塔庫魯已開始動手——他飛快地從草叢中抓取乾草，搓揉成一條條細繩。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGPZxrXFIC
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMyZgwj3N6
當大半人員已潛入地道後，他退到洞口邊，熟練地將木棍縱橫編織成一個簡易骨架，用草繩緊緊綁緊，隨後再將乾草小心覆蓋於其上。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn9F9tXddR
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD5HQyOJFs
在壓好最後一把乾草後，他穩穩地將偽裝物架回洞口上方，草繩一拉，整捆乾草順勢立起，然後短刀一割，草捆散開覆蓋住整個洞口。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY89LQHNcKU
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZWpwwlxNP
從外頭望去，應當是要不露絲毫破綻。即使敵人靠近，也難以察覺地底藏著生路。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB2gUAQ1Ut
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIaG8EUsdg
確認無光線滲漏後，塔庫魯這才轉身鑽入坑道，輕巧關閉了地面世界的大門。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk9o1VgBt4
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j5kUt2Vss
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20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEUXaq5N0M
地道內一片昏暗，僅有公主法杖頂端的淡藍光芒，幽微閃爍，引導著眾人前行。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J17AzdV3a
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2LaSj0IHi
這條地道不算狹窄，普通人通過綽綽有餘，但對塔庫魯那寬厚如岩熊般的身軀而言，每一步都得小心翼翼，時不時磕碰岩壁。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzaZMkAmEm
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EZq3Bdn1t
坑道時而下沉，時而上升，蜿蜒曲折，如同某種蠕動的地底巨獸。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHGnmsaFFQ
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1cDFry511
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALJX8eWXN7
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDKAsUhbhh
蓋達打頭陣，小心翼翼地探頭從門縫中張望，確定無人後，夸斯特下令推門而入。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZNdfb33bx
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAZpbWay4x
門後，是一間早已被歲月侵蝕的岩室。木桌、木椅、木床，全都朽壞傾斜，空氣中瀰漫著陳舊與沉寂的味道。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9eUAAVpzB
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YmyCmndCO
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgMKGkGA76
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYXHmJ1vCR
眾人索性在這間岩室短暫休息。塔庫魯巨大的身軀堵在進來的門口，將通道緊緊封死，猶如一面堅不可摧的鐵牆。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqabdmkAQQP
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot9yQyh7ZI
即便有敵人追蹤至此，遠遠望來，也只會以為這裡已無路可走。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FmoxYmDFo
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwiPl4spWj
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWwnOp3Cyq
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSiAzcQWTi
公主低聲為眾人解說：「岩鼠獸人世代鑽營於地底，開鑿岩洞尋找『岩果』——這種稀有的果實能大幅強化獸人的體能。岩鼠獸人本身是純肉食者，需以岩果換取其他食物資源。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQPtglZA9i
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9pw0lCzFC
她頓了頓，接著說道：「在這種狹窄的坑道中，他們近乎無敵。牙齒鋒利如鋼刃，啃咬堅石，築建整個地下世界。他們可以收縮身體穿過狹隘通道，也能鼓脹身體，封堵整個地道！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLb6ah77NC
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd6e9uqmc6
塔庫魯聽得暗自想像——一群像海豹般柔軟而致命的岩鼠獸人，盤踞在這片地底暗流之中。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7m8rV6qwf
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnvFMWqRts
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2MP5XSUGS
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujfyrG7xmO
那聲音低微而遙遠，彷彿有人正用尖銳的圓鍬，不斷撥弄脆弱的岩石。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtbFe5viJU
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBnfoKgpJI
夸斯特神情凝重地貼耳傾聽，招呼泰倫斯與艾利歐特一同判斷，但無論怎麼辨別，都無法確定聲音從哪條通道傳來。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXUMwuZKw9
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMFA7IZ9JB
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA8YrcrfFL
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zDnLedD7T
夸斯特點了點頭，斷然下令：「既如此，從左邊地道前進。那方向應該更靠近山壁外側！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TQt7OvsZ3
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYfmyHiRya
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5Kz0lDTOd
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0zEdIMEsA
艾利歐特微笑點頭，臨出發前還與派緹對望一眼，後者回以甜甜的微笑——20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBcip2RM9D
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIl8XNeeAq
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUqbxH84YM
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFijqEvhcFk
副隊長泰倫斯不經意地看了看剩下的露西——這個外表甜美、個性卻剛烈的女兵。他苦笑搖頭，自知已有家室，自然不敢妄動。20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfujVe7jjcB
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu4Eq85GBb
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS9QBAKG7W
20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ6urmJHZM
無論怎麼想，都很難想像這兩個肌肉怪物能與露西這樣的金髮女戰士牽起紅線。
