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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFi77cR4Ly
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcr6jHYcAg
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUTMHt2YEC
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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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTbBa5AOcq
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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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuE8C6IZVO
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而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ835Lqf9PI
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSyFADOhMF
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Xr9HlqXK
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8fGbvdMdP
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlFsCfPYPS
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Smuat7eYy
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6I7XOgCj
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAiZ7z2gMf
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」。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoB5awwwpI
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGziD2VdHJ
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！」120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjGYYkAtkZ
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXMW1l9pfS
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdCMtEuFla
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrmqXCHwf1
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmZvGbaTkt
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0AFXjO4SA
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttVVztl6XM
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUG3hNYTkh
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHxy4r9yJD
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXYpkKVAxr
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvhehw8b89
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoQhIgBFJW
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzil7ZgQbr
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONpchGc8qr
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」。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2ITxukCho
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KoFjgQJj4
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD13rW7Xvo
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVpN0tM4nV
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7H3EErPYY
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ9T6ODGvs
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNfJWT4bWx
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTu44cEwTF
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCRNkO2cYT
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gI8LQQjzO
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTchuOvkIe
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FK4t88F9M
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jr82fKtJY
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPRczNLmwO
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD0FzdNUjd
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNqm0gD013
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWQ3kKIksT
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrExoMC2kZo
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5lNScfF4E
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QqU6X03wS
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCsVrOShjC
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcACOkUcEho
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0hwLGyl1h
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k9C32Emqm
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QRGmTRgj6
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQyPAjzqgD
───120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJZtdKAQxo
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASEC80cEy8
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvsEdawV6a
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pKNyAPlAd
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vrObJ7Rj5
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqD9MgB7vk
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc3PM9Ch7W
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y3FOVVHuT
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——120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQtq1OgSbO
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnicioolC5U
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWN1uBqrLl
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE6tHmQBQ4
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEhcS0z983
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkW7dctZ8A
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwG77aKlv8
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1YhCzTV95
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBoO3h6arq
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKlUhpvzTN
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！120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFw6D9VUdu
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u2sP4pYbC
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W8TIVS2Po
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hov4upuW2
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf3pDBDGHj
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HB1rW67Vk
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx7veMSQUc
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TEHsYtv9k
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHARYIbNYY
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VwuEGM71O
塔庫魯心中一凜。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcDEo4Kg5U
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcNASFeCK7
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJifb7g3Jq
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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！120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhakvuvquej
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7foJ8qh5PT
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpPBf7ifOC
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt9pJvMLx9
此地已不宜久留！120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBBX8TddwD
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf248c1LDDo
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3h39LTPM8
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpbEIWjpe7
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHuHCdrjz7
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmLIHuSV38
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120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro4EpNlKlM
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5QHzp3RL0
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uXKZXhH8V
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZgtNRlOqE
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAwEbnbUgt
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmghKzV6N7d
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhTcldFuEi
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxXdV2SOqR
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7dhTNzLy9
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1JBZkQDWj
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf7Vj4JSo5
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoUqItIFRH
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JHSJuzBSA
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAIblzrAcJ
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb70WBKbbbY
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG2Wce2TXd
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這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkojWYwgXW
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YqRauqToR
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZmW6n6APe
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGY3a69Z6D
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23js40G3Jl
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那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioEJtwU5G1
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxSL0EDI8N
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyblVNdkg6h
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP3MYgNYVq
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT0CCN2BNb
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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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdlOmT7awn
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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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbINtW2204V
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但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRuVy61BLy
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCFrvfL4hG
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。120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdJVSzKyFi
120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyFsKREK7r
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。
