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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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdanlNIgRM2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5nmmJRIUm
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzNwJaqeVo
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLsJGS9XCa
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMWkx6ITZL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOFR1a3LTX
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS0utScIgS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KvwrRLdYR
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGD6hJKtqC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhkhniXO48
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCizHwsMsZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm64fiqJW4
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15G9itl7tq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA8yLnjSM8
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE1HE4nWrL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwzh95ZYDP
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」。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAB7iRlGTY
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTYh8NJyWd
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！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tKqZq11NC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwAGhcYwec
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vtQpiSCZz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7GbD8ssnV
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHaOBGLlFI
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJVapPcc8B
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz1OsmGZOE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXlhi8boUt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2AI4h45aL
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Et4WuJEsZ
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPahDyC85Mi
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57Jx6O4skx
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuVM2wLtaA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGAIAvfSW1
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」。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo9BAPDuCJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfZWrkPoAb
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdK6E3D73f
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlczEeZgVuJ
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVi1PagieB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpCTwmcb6u
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnF0qw9HdV
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74osCYUO86
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvCGh7z9kS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5PTXL4T08
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVLlGHk2cB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgKkkHGsFx
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ILjSO1vOe
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N9LXeYejT
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dSxxhLRH2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1vFLcvLt2
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMpOP3JFoz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpvz4C3skO
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtHq9LFtdh
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJFL1Wv3uS
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiFNtGopn9
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKacsYKSi9I
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bHPmqA4MM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedjkW5PY77
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIbDKVllmp
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIGvqoUnsk
───47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPSpzahklO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kzPzmFASS
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u5P5uJck3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr49qUqZIkM
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilZHfiGZ8H
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed8XWaYNEu
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9gKzWpTAS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecjOt2XPQB
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——47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIwFTKsqx2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrwBPnFRUR
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4cVyD2iJn
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElIH2FeJLm
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOocPgRrhF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYhjsVW8Nc
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo8f4FrN9n
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cJrjTkRNZ
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR2JwdoiyF
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI5KDvf7OH
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！47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhQes2qajR
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RHnXDbHdd
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N3hxgloYA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3pcw2KUs6
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqWX4r5d8N
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu9mg9nxda
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z0Zo7oOMb
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9THNfERFuI
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlaBM4iDw8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BhKkllOpX
塔庫魯心中一凜。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mDNvQo2bt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVzuvAmwBW
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy2dSUxhEu
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOX4qg2pls
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9gsKKRvzN
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZOvpGA3x2
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！47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbUZ6CdR1G
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM70Wu7PdaT
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkFfnCA1VK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14JQUhjudi
此地已不宜久留！47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnSXdSCxye
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdGuqTmx48
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6am2tKjo7i
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3kOvCYhpy
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYApetFCLGJ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD638Am61QM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuiCkEXjxs
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibpT04lyEb
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsigxvttp3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIVKaIsvbd
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ411YDds0ud
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6yF6OeyAa
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RX6kbzfNy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5AAkOLmjz
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2g7ho6kDhi
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v6k1BeHFZ
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq4MQc0eMz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHver3w81Y
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVIZgdN22d
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrR7vYvMcb
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLGdi3O8QO
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqBngfB6ma
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAi9KV3wslT
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFKyicMV8y
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyBojI8xkf
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVJyagd7uO
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyLSI6SIlY
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpCNLBbhsK
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr93HoK2UC
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I4L6XOSiG
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc5iRjZgV5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLNF8MSuWQ
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUV5QXFD9z
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajJFkpJy7v
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGyh2stWz8
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyzNbzjdnI
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA9fJzjUKM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wTaLap2FI
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O1hhzvyGc
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsQ9VJsuQT
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Q2WJlvAP
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ecE7TxqL5
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kqEobJk53
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrO47GuIVs
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ujEwbUXSA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAxESq6JKF
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。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc8eqTRYDw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FL5gSBuez
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。
