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奔襲而來的金獅國探路騎兵隊
塔庫魯沿著山壁上的平台，往南方獨自行走，已經是第三天了。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5Qwdfncer
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOK12cjzlf
在這段孤獨的旅程中，他也逐漸從模糊的記憶中發現——這副身體的原主人，方向感實在糟糕得驚人。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH2KEv3LpO
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxRm6Di4VF
以往在營區裡，從餐廳返回宿舍這麼短的距離，他總能鬼打牆似地迷失方向，不是誤闖別的中隊，就是乾脆走到營區外。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTaY1OIuV6
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaykZdSwAD
還好，這種「路癡體質」在山蠻族中屬於普遍現象，各中隊長乾脆指派衛兵，專門負責把走丟的山蠻族士兵一個個送回正確的宿舍。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE4pzbpHcl
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhtcGeTlF2
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofF7paQE9h
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4mz6ew0HX
最誇張的一次，集合解散後，他竟直接走進伙房，大剌剌地把晚餐準備好的肉食啃掉一半，害得整個中隊那晚只能啃著乾巴巴的麵包解飢。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxmu8zh7RO
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGJ5MdprSK
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc3YQqmG6Z
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U6yqkYM3u
若換作普通士兵，這種行為恐怕早已軍法伺候，但山蠻族人不僅方向感奇差，審美觀也與人類大相逕庭。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJF1cIyCRu
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPvLmWADL4
在山蠻族的標準中，真正的美女得是體態豐腴、臀寬臂壯、腿若樹樁——因為懷孕後依然能翻山越嶺、勞作不輟，才是「好女人」。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeSVt45Hzy
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuAR0BD8wW
所以塔庫魯當場皺眉抱怨：「原來妳們身上的肉感是盔甲撐出來的？真令人失望！」46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjbFagxs9Z
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORGdJdcP9N
結果，浴室裡一群女軍官、中士以上階級的志願役女性，直接上演了一場「圍毆誤闖者」的盛宴。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TGsyHCLH9
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BHZVksAGQ
這麼看來，她們並未真正把他當成男人看待，大約就像一隻闖進浴室的哈士奇一樣，只是稍微「教訓」了一頓。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlgUCuaxhm
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqhOqb2Zlv
真正被懲罰的，反而是那些原本應該接回他的人類士兵，因闖入女生浴室而受到嚴厲處分。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5U2zEGmY3
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGxIKpJHWW
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh81Opalo3Q
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5UBfYnIHs
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPa73Jx7J9i
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLhr8J86xc
有些同袍不僅方向感喪失，連基本的記憶力也一塌糊塗，甚至常常一屁股坐下來就打起呼嚕，流著口水睡著。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPJX2819Lq
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueXi9FDpvo
因此，天龍國軍方早早制定對策：只要部隊中編有山蠻族鐵甲兵，就必須安排人員專職「照看」。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcW6N0ggl8
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vb4CWl4jE
每位山蠻族士兵的鐵盔上，還會刻上所屬部隊番號，方便一旦迷路，其他人能迅速將其送回正確位置。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjUj1Lcyq6
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl0WecTuKh
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMo9DKgxfn
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8QrRUylzl
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr7ebSDNWP
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMURe7xfMP
而一號位，往往是留給特別人員的——此刻，他便是小隊中的那位鐵甲兵。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5yDIHiaee
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7cYotxzRL
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC1PPebRSl
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMmRDQ8CPh
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iik1qTot9
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTfUPV6mzf
萬縱溪在遠處轉了個彎，對面山壁下方出現了一個不小的湖泊，萬縱溪正是從那裡發源。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dPFw1knQA
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKOrtAnEsd
但讓人頭痛的是，除了萬縱溪，還有數條細小溪流從四面八方注入這座湖中。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJw5Uyp8aa
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4jxYD0Esi
因為溪流纖細，行軍時部隊是直接涉水而過，腦子裡只想著「怎麼吃飯」的塔庫魯根本沒記清到底該沿著哪條小溪往上走。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPF8LIbXqR
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdZ51nMI5D
更麻煩的是，這一帶地勢已經抬升，谷地爬坡，樹林稀稀疏疏地蔓延開來，遠方已經連成大片森林。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG2Qp1F8Vy
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5jI62JcnG
塔庫魯心知，自己若想穿越森林，只能步行沿小溪逆行，但每條溪流皆沒入密林，無法從山壁上判別方向。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51rXfzMnmP
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvvf5SbIoG
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUlg5GqgTJ
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUrOjBNMof
───46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYSlNxPovO
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJmSlQgPeF
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan5FdTJh9D
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAnXbr9Kse
水邊向來是猛獸與獵物的必爭之地，而濃密的森林更像是吞噬一切生靈的黑洞，稍有大意便可能成為獵物。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5Wixnu4UP
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8RVBjBAIo
塔庫魯深知，自己身著厚重鐵甲，體型龐大，無論是人類還是野獸，只要一眼瞥見他，便能迅速作出反應。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKX4XR7mvB
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuQJzE2AOA
他沉住氣，一動不動，等待了近十分鐘，確定四周平靜無異，正準備離開掩體時，忽然——46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE081nDdzUp
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGczIshZxW
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwZQR5hLFU
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoX274fvPp
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SWtAPwvPg
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8b8L1UUj1
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIFnscAZub
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnrjNjMErB
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJocR3g80u
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVyYRdUzSP
這是一支八人小隊，身著皮甲，馬鞍旁掛著的徽章顯示出他們是——金獅國的騎兵！46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMiWsLbTDu
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFriPiWNom
更糟的是，這支小隊停下的地點，竟離他的藏身之處不到五十步遠。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD1sxgne0a
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ720oOL0Zmh
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ZmLnO3UV
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYboHFvQWn
左手舉盾，盾牌「鏘」地一聲扣上臂鉤；右手抽刀，單刀出鞘，刀光閃爍；接著單手控馬，隊列緩步向森林方向推進。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOzMxsNkd3
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkhUkJ8m9d
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSc8Ln19Z1
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiv2V22XDC
塔庫魯心中一凜。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuTB22u7OY
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI5PqAFkTn
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawVBcHhed6
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjqJb0djh2
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbqFpc96Va
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigl3IdfFhb
他迅速在腦中推演情勢——金獅國與天龍國曾在萬縱谷交戰，雙方皆有損傷，但金獅國很可能已經調集援軍，準備發動第二波奇襲！46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBmOuBlr2C
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIzWnmpBVV
這支八人隊伍只是開路先鋒，真正的大軍，或許已經在趕來的途中。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxUurwQmca
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cs04h7sLs
此地已不宜久留！46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTH0sYnvz2
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxQOjK1bah
塔庫魯屏息凝神，像一尾隱身於水中的大魚般，悄無聲息地跟上這隊騎兵。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5QqZxz6k2
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq22GrJoZdM
他利用山壁旁的亂石、低矮的灌木與倒木，靈巧地穿梭其間，時停時走，與前方騎兵保持著既不太近、也不太遠的絕妙距離。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDQDQpP2hm
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEMDwiSQub
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeZfbYsiY5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWXxDKXpAo
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUfdVtn2CD
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyU0lI8hGC
這種馬形體高大，四肢強壯，特別是尾巴，並非普通鬃毛，而是如劍一般又粗又直的硬毛，每一根鬃毛幾乎可觸地。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJf1pMT1Ww
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsuaQOkh1z
更驚人的是馬身兩側——各有三片自然生長的硬甲，第一片最大，護住肩胸；第二片略小，覆蓋肋部；第三片則貼於臀部。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2wKG6NCr2
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61N1rd8lcZ
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcuT8dLNSd
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFNA1mZKWf
風拂過馬背時，防護布偶爾掀起，隱約可見那層藏著殺機的甲刺。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUB9DjRurc
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHVYOv45wT
更詭異的是，刺棘馬前蹄上方藏著的長刺，在奔跑間會不時伸縮，像是某種尚未解密的天然武器。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wJweINWfO
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrxwkFGZ6k
根據記憶，這種馬原產於金獅國某地，偏好寒冷環境，體型比地球馬匹更為高大雄壯。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqwTUZOzKW
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzAF7vreN5
只可惜牠們耗氧量驚人，在高山稀薄空氣中容易體力不支，無法適應過高海拔。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA3FzvQmLL
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HBEqnyjG4
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDicHt6hxja
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8CTlMRVm7
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3eioctRe3
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZdSWdhesM
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVecUrpSfn
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzJN6a5ePO
點火後，濃厚的綠色煙霧冉冉升起，且風中不散，緩緩飄向天空。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHotkBRa0M
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUuMUGno1i
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjAlXfWSAn
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVeadH2qUi
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmSNqKyzKA
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCSqy0Aa6X
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJBt7jzT7j
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46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y9yzLsiwz
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4JoSx5YbN
不過，潛藏於心底的冷靜理智仍提醒著他：這副山蠻族身軀雖然強壯，卻缺乏靈巧，若想真正施展特遣隊的戰術素養，還需要借助工具。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRLcapEbUh
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2N5VkXen5
他取出長柄石斧，快速削製數根鋒利木矛，作為隨手可拋的武器。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtEGbSOyh5
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1dkofa9sO
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7VEvT0aKJ
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAAwG2lpCW
他的目標，是悄悄跟隨金獅國軍隊，找到通往天龍國的歸途——而非陷入不必要的廝殺。46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLgpFeo5iV
46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL2lnjwCoR
森林中的塔庫魯，彷彿一道隱藏的幽影，靜靜等待著下一次出擊的機會。
