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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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LcwAqCuig
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZtdbAHvFW
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9C2sldene
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Meg4EfEJK
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniJFRCE4TD
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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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7fnIMsL8q
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso2PwxCNaR
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztqmlZ2Sx4
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaTKDHQlqp
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZL7dTHwuD
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE92VCRjGP
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFKr2pFdI7
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK80WpznRam
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzGDK5BGk7
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1avCZYHl3j
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」。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FxSGqPbbl
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPUbW72so0
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！」41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wiZKpp5Aw
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPKSP5egDL
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiZyFEikaY
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTTdGaMToq
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZW2A5hY7l
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYCzrbJ0ww
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIKNXI5ONP
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRJIovlDO1
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneFRgHLIhw
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcm6KcMW0F
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQOCTzbLCG
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqb9GYCXyo
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSeWNZrO6D
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwLbZaO3Ho
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」。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDd05RtEwQ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdcWj77ln5
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmhBV3teid
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm09j7tzP1D
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5JmMOmeaD
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4Sq2EWvxn
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WoV2TLcxK
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6r5U2peP0
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L3CafYQnO
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5z1biSfi6
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDP7UoJvUm
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoqOvlClpw
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkYOYW34ZD
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWewLXgUOcB
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFGWPoyCMO
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKHvSwN9Wi
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gM8zLJ9XB
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OGcrCGQKt
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvYnzLyMLK
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYBtJ1MCjx
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax5DZcNn8y
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHCYN3nGt
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wbNRX8xso
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfAuEBFzVx
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFu9XNGo22
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDncdIDcSMy
───41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2Dgun00HS
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUb3hk1gl1
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNQoUT1icf
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdbMUgayzy
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo60htYa61
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PdZvKmc9U
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYHUedZZCe
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBF9fFfkXw
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——41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKN8kYaKJ5
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWUsLY5AfY
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2KQyzi6B
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJfxGzc8mc
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh8EKMsU0N
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHbx0oARDy
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40KstJFfmx
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09kDq7FTnA
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttnbDG6gK1
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06hTXC7kd9
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！41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrlnTfJPX0
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKZpY4GwDV
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ8l7qUTW7
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ647wZoVGaR
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ocQr2Eyri
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGuoco7CN3
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD9jYF9Oac
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5oxjuxSI8
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINtqPGEpQF
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CaYV2dA98
塔庫魯心中一凜。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5XOTP5Rl8
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFbJse4TH1
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFknPvo1bs
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegsLVuj4LZ
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJvWxqcQ66
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4lHMx4JMt
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！41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFhtS5c1Bz
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AAf8fGFrv
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI6ORY9Jgu
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kr08BwoD3
此地已不宜久留！41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjQccoJ9oK
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59aEi4cmNJ
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4xE8zt8ow
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHqKWjsiCE
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjxZnCZ8YR
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj0YkaBMVl
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFbUvE3wjg
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6EnSgqINY
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXaDN5RzMp
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8fj4eAhsX
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzGkIACOJH
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao1AMDS2uR
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvVCqwKreO
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7smm60Klit
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEghKarODRG
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYjZZrEARD
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2w9KUfvyS
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchDLfCPGor
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdnGTRNONS
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rFA8fQdbv
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvAvkaLm2P
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkKDtWbeir
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk9cNThp08
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PNUJPXaIC
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiPIKD771a
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxFbyaE92I
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrphqye8Jc
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnY6UIkMD7
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKUNkMdB1E
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wekCQXbsM
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5GvzKWHbz
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12RA6kBAuu
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4YlUsi6Mf
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXMgcK5lFk
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lLLBdRk05
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNm3DBh5Mo
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR6lzalaC1
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41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDk8jc5rKM
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMwXuzi4v3
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B4PKPkLVx
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAelf2odT0
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2OokeWVjg
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIY3JTd9yW
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9do1u2zDm
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0FPDPrQqO
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。41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUlaEamU1A
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z5vGbjNIg
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。
