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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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JILNNANnN
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuj3COTJdH
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUxJw59W0I
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpvbxV9frj
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHBobi4sna
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdSH3vzJ2F
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAQT5uGBJa
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XthuAcTzo
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqkLYGyVKc
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB1gUqwIaY
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ5YnoIk1D
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpkuljkdtR
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！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sqi2OLNU2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HlWt6Eej6
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneNR8pdn3l
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWCk2tkqfq
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYRusHheYn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYshWyIG5M
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC2X4fF9UB
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwbzIEHMdf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo9K4JklOK
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4wm5CT7oT
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DLRl0mwjh
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBPQ2zis4G
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——21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvh5fTiRz5
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHmIjIeXS4
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsCsZITNuW
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF07mschnR
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneyrOmsi0E
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm81DvzXPT
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM60cJXKUw
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAv3CF4P8m
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVcuCcfD3w
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7gdMo59K9
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。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOXfiQiADe
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8VJ64u6h4
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。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8U1mDzS78
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQsigUhkAH
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。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy9L7rr3MB
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaIERaWBkO
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？」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqihYingd7u
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIcd01uTvF
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』。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVw5wAo8Uf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb8UJQDL6m
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPxPqK8ZwQ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCqfq1oXD7
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOabpJxfgoC
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSjJJ2Adqd
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！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu2wV0sn95
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTg2u1yi4v
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncTGJOPwn0
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKuvmWg2Lt
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8iMcfCuEU
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9q2Tu9D4y
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……」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W4Htsh5lx
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9exB9XFHE
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXiok7dkNy
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4a8vnJegj
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！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4zs13lwEE
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bV6lIua7E
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzkw9xeE1U
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z4v5Xs3Ev
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwZwIyGZNQ
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zzW1ycAYw
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1DHhNor7O
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijuJMT2F8L
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxBsbYrKlM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4Lf0tMfQb
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG097nIspP
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGIqy3zY5Q
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw31zjBwOm
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEoQUkIsF9
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorJ45Ogiwj
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GJAHZiIsa
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCU14DvDet
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMsFaOmb2d
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qjLxaUST4
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEiGuBaOjF
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKSV9cViKM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq68rsv9LQ2
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMI3LCFVdp
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHSSk31i1Y
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO7GhuBG8y
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblVEQFk3Z
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtHJiC7Zf1
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2kuabqGO9
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUagzhBVQII
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOwjnbqnIL
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelpR81fqQv
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZMHbWIZmW
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3MDnGqjBr
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcSACf02r2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk78CsHZoC
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJWNdwutbu
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。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntGfoA0qI0
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMenUzwflI
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！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe1Hxq4LHf
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnWMiRMaS4
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtMWN362kM
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkeTG54jmj
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR888wheZcy
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhv7LMj0Mh
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh4ZYCwMCD
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx7aQ0x7GL
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaen9wDd1H
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEZwoLmViT
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQqRc56Id8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9xDOa96iD
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！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAlFv7J7eB
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwhjFWCO6y
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7COHVp1Xi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmDbVavaEG
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——21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk1lcKjDUm
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzx51Jfn1U
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJsqH96Msn
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FcHRKqvI8
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。21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9XctZcOcA
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lmlvjrxdP
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5545067pYD
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KbyZwWMpi
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。
