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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuacxeXavU0
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qPjF5BUyc
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClXzAIBtkF
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7Cs5qItc9
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHdxAb1CrD
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiNvU1DDsi
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vRvkOOSmn
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BwduEL06h
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4U9CvnN1G
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd7CTEmIEr
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzkXxz5BT5
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabtFYKdFdw
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe7zKg1GN2
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uzC6NWIEJ
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACAgMLFzBz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RnsUoRj6r
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」。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgajGN4NgPf
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpK0iqViFW
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！」118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoGWcAtZSH
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpApyvn6IVW
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatRzYQwecA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoosVGPFox
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAnlnoYrPS
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYZJYn3U5B
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8QokoJLYc
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbJpSDF10F
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFVmMvtJAs
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuNrUGeAth
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLNd1sDSU3
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApIREiKvol
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cBBLcQkHa
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd7TSwKhxD
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」。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVknT1GL0C
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsZ0yE8yQK
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34QA3nKNMY
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNL1hr2ZlB
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYEGIRQQie
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqVkNUSSW9
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzsANDyqaA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRFe5niEpr
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7oD9t80RU
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHYiRKgCA0
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM1kicAOWz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes0ZEN5OUk
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHAdeCBvIr
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlZAvXXJhT
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI9XNq0poD
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLNdOPenMH
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o82o0Z54i
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKSPWvie3b
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aMJ1OkSkj
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKh5p7fyON
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJ3RRSZo8M
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFuuzm76oA
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTQG4kiaBY
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxMi0a052I
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28s3ZOV1Xz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqvT9eInyW
───118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMmWia0bie
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAinwjbJtA
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspI8n2L848
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXY9mFUGIK
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnlNcCCrMa
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLXIUMbxjJ
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7TUdqctIC
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe2hYmbxDQ
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——118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzVaXIJq4t
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XwZVtMAnZ
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieaU1OYwar
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq0DJ2jZdu
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmocXMAnkNA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lMVfoYQ9G
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8C95NJnEj
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6GkrRs9cw
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegJLn5EXpl
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7FQ1x4HDm
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！118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OH1LTEsgd
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8WoJ6bZDA
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSAbU4WdTY
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7cw38xaQ2
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26YAIFzyfS
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRSUheBtQQ
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGo4kR2mBQ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XRbIW5fKM
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5hTm1jsdJ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLu8vwbiOZ
塔庫魯心中一凜。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b12Md6gSc
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOTogO4jio
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOnbF8GmYz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iDi8lOkLD
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnscCPxMmeb
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ztcWR1vBW
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！118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB4BGAiNKn
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptziwVXYSc
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqEdfCzEuz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJQhCOpKYE
此地已不宜久留！118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH6TTXPxcn
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu4EGqxQbW
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedJFqijprw
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe6pddmnqD
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX6Sdqlhhz
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuemLsxnWJs
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkU7j0v3WP
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKjz76ynrH
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0aDGGMfI5
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUaOYrQHql
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsf5SAWlG9
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMwxOwA3Cf
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWyB8OKtk2
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD85CYCmsb
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlOhfx7Wcx
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47dUXOR2Ut
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkniu4gMFE
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5ZGz0juhz
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP8r7xi8cx
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zQHUuMcjY
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2LMoImVHV
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSankxCJtOF
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE8DrPIV5C
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVQuZVNF6q
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS533vmx4pb
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4milkcfogJ
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO23jfznLct
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoF1kl5JsH
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAGJk0RaHQ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrZ9v9fKzy
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptCXXSVQiO
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaXL9B8Rbf
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAChzDt8PFO
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEIaV4GMqJ
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR2yM8S80D
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4fY4oCqDB
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8d62Ff754
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1klVagY8XN
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iKqYQWBLA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb4mOUYctY
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xep0q99xJ
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OPvFuCIyQ
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNF5GEVrSA
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjFJP9XxsQ
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsDVmJgzPv
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIegFOpn88
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。118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn3Hx0aRJU
118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GJCqVyr4b
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。
