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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H6jIVbjSy
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPzA3UJurM
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvMnBwFdbI
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35owN6Mzck
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpa7JNebsI
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIZlZcGssn
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDTIoBTswW
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm10A4E7ev
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfSXfdTjAL
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCofQpVTE8e
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ6AMFpFAv
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVplriyGE4
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZjNfHgzGW
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VEsAfHeVO
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBjeWV2apT
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMHKtd3iHE
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」。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrChdwhBD6
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOS658BpNd
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！」134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYRov4ZXG4
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1OPaAndn0
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfONvh9UI5z
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LWyS5i49F
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZeXsZqCv9
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWq8YarFWT
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjdImr8wQO
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOrCvbezbo
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ruEjR23VY
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW3nCg0DZW
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVPCG4jRBd
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC49mt8mtJ7
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIAPWuExLC
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGvvM52pWF
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」。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVLwqZHp3a
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2BBBV6rDn
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqH3cInkIk
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqmQpsCL00
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RoWIndHKo
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEWRsnhpdn
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSptZ88kIm
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2MlaXaU18
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBglcnPzerS
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo7E57W8BK
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIterwPmr9
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCJxf1mXVK
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNiALk3ktY
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ0uww2Pql
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt10uyrAfX9
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1WD8J7tcH
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMSxCZ1EiS
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRtAWzOU4q
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93H8bm4Nbp
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zhrmqucaz
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXspS1qEXF3
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9QnDXD0N5
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbBIrAFdnb
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56igR2x0PK
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatnX2N3JwC
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfGhnUKCgy
───134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj7zkobWbj
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX0fqol1Vf
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOD9goRXLx
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIxKO5qZaX
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVthL0Jvcae
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnxunB0qFH
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrEiUJYzn0
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlMwHvQ5k7
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——134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQNRh6Y8B3
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MLyqKOBET
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTWHXkstgX
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqyva0Sknq
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKfY0siSF2
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XyEEeDlc7
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatrURQi1z1
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2tlmfpRrj
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJoJfMN55f
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynv99djq53
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！134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwDsdeCUl6
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHGrJBMbVJ
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjAO8BkZ5O
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNw9FTdGPM
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKlohmiVqt
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPA0gA3JHm
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWphBBDp8Aq
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5yLSO66Yh
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUqbtz3kmT
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmyxxVSNGn
塔庫魯心中一凜。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Pfub2vrqQ
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX3UrOqpew
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpz4lwq0iZ
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEaT3plms1
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJy5ZFPJfd
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXGYIIUGkY
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！134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROmIYYm3xy
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAnqcI5v1n
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HVNHh9Uz6
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlPJoCwm1Z
此地已不宜久留！134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbipw2MM7XW
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFcKUWLC8M
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRP6eUZYzh
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdxx2OtBuh
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPePhx1MAj
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Q6CT8bRUB
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBL1xOqdR9
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2Ax6QZwZ3
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfxRkFGsPE
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVNywNQaAM
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJCSVhZcrt
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmgfUNlHFM
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO58F2k2EZZ
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBWCAuByAz
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByxRYjs98f
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eSJfWdnJ2
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxlIjk7N9m
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY93qCsFrUv
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxlL762AU8
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4XWncZ2u3
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHAvmqYho2
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R4do6SYrF
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9PEelWj2P
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrEMF64ySH
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxIfNV6Cfp
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN56bILnZ9
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7B1YJl3j1
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSdE988yRg
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIanWGHmp4
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnjNh1WCiM
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlDhOGPE6w
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2l6XnyAZE
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c8gDlLMPc
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nnguPV0Fc
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYU26onuNv
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0zmwAhBa0
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgHZKFt4K4
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4WqkWDsc6
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgpbnKfGSs
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIFr2GEMTD
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg6pAGSkwd
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtKnyNLWpL
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBtXyYmWYt
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnojnvVtDg
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDJTGchPEo
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQUPRlXdMp
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。134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EUzpMmkU4
134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6fSYhrfyN
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。
