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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu1GngakPG
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt4xlfJv3s
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeIcKxHReN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsoskXjUIe
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtPkvEHLYm
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZXtxhijdT
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrofy1UZA6L
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFj02csreZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHI0jSPSpj
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5ftLpbTTl
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWeM07GyKQ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJduD3ryuBC
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！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhim1B2E6G
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80V2QPv5HO
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RUOHwZbZZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuml5uN1Flq
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1GbHkNgNj
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakRWQ9UCNc
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaygkEEG88
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX82VPcPSkw
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo75MY79RIC
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAda31KLqFl
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwNhOkwqV1
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROXcVoK1TP
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——94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B1vl8agKd
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKMIDC9l3J
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ky0LeX4Yj
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3KOKkWMS3
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa72hX5f56w
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvefIYPSljD
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkrCKUFKDz
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtoXbmpQI8
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu5rt6mzgb
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuDi7igo4c
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。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgEwbrL63x
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0cRRE86rx
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。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgwmbbFrzd
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXo048A7Qx
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。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeqUhv0eto
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLX5a1h5g9
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？」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAYv0FVNsV
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTmG8wIJq4
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』。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWUZUs0Pqq
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4Ti9nFYGM
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJNY9Ba3WB
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4e4o3Bygo
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLhWzjXYet
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp3Q1n7gmf
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！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTx0cxsdGP
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ91v5lZ4Ew
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2RrnICMNN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd5QdxXwZe
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKLqUq2Hds
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuNhc3DJXU
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……」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBpBKc3k9i
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhmmTLXvfx
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF0bDWBaVv
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNI7OXVZ2b
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！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQiIBReyHn
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOwTfb19yv
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe5oQSMPjZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XQmmeWxOB
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgmQtlyh1V
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLmNFDMuIK
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkMkWL4vxV
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtakNMpFGmu
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2cBAcGfUz
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONQ45WUMv0
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO2tnsOz1f
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwF26BIbPU
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBXCOpXJnO
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKFAEDmRcw
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkilQmdeUg
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn8ubnxXgP
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1aHOTprli
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDjslxAdeW
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XRJNtupNm
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZOe7WzEsj
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv99Cg7LH46
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqrdVbT99X
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr06Kc2UIXi
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO6znPTUmA
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsONnK6TvX
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHlWJnQnhi
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjxOwqS0GN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou7Dewzkh1
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUGzFUrQyP
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOP17pfHPP
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCMMPIoCG3
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKr4nWfZu9
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd2F1k8atf
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF8blnz9iK
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGqkoKDLv
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9VVNtSd2q
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。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1xsKeFTIF
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oL0d2JN53
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！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHBuo0PiOW
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nPAyhTgPr
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2QzwLpDaB
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDrQ8tMEe2
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDgmE4aZxo
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IXPWWOLfT
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sJjdIq25x
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnb2foNGrJ
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfNB5Z02iY
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl57IfsMapq
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SyK16Ye41
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10b4mw8jGt
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！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgee1slPEd
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gNbiB7Wz1
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAql4roh87
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfD4fFlFsO
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——94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFPuWTXKfN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34TFWViHDU
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3E19rvpJw
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXCTbLifaT
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。94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO6UKiHnYE
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SJayG7TzP
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNaMaqWLix
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RdwYYheri
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。
