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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GGNpjXU67
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiQK2ERFiZ
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHppsv21hI
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LAayJTlnM
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqsIWLiUe4
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepQ4Kg7aAV
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbo3alYJwl
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iDVxCqOlP
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp1rvcvvv4
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFnpeNL5Nc
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgIZDVyf23
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8mvWW104h
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpDXlyngBr
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORWANkHlns
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7T3bLEvls
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2bCV5JjsK
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」。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbIob5sQ5j
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTFKfdumMQ
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！」125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvitfDhMV6Q
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUnMM5GxEb
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Q6bapR9l
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBdeYEHilH
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYQ3oOyaCW
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvmQnMd0Gm
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqawBDz5q
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC88PewG1b
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqKGbGoOom
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcsdFrQ8tl
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzRFqRQYEj
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B6eqePPID
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZzrXE9epG
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykGQyG0iMh
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」。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym0GnZrtVJ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ11PtqAuR
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutV77nKDrt
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOubo12JOc
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGNQEAtosL
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtoy4P1ZVQ
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNJ97EeB27
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmyOQU2ggv
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7AQHj3dJS
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F39tLlxux
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9DvvMJyMY
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr4mNNIT1O
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B97WtcxRk
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyFldgIpIt
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ114Rl3dFVU
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgieGfzrIt
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LUjVqnvVI
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsd0bBNcBG
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOvtzwiDqm
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCfeM9imiR
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDrdfCw2Ve
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSnJhbKCNq
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknlGutgiRM
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3RWoehxGv
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb5pBCIF8R
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk8ys2h33Q
───125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbi7JseN3Y
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8J22zfUkZ
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRSq8AZDn0
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRNz3U3XJA
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqek4Tx5Ber
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfcqcd5A3U
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgLwx1Fvgd
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVFN4TEW5R
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——125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnIw4IH2IY
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr3djVO6oJ
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizgefSPu1E
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HHoPzKiZP
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamF9yDds7x
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTKgctUuCp
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO3ommjZUZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7RjNyV0YF
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyw4w0hAEd
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUGCt55nKm
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！125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaG4ZvzStE
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvdhaPXSOW
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9x6Ng90Rr
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbQLcbAEkm
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5rOQojOXQ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc8h1P7ush
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Md3Fx0UX
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0OOwX5f6K
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4VKf4Z62l
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2vNjWJva4
塔庫魯心中一凜。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVxkRFSzLg
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GH6UA7id6
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaHmoWn2fZ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYjwMG1wYW
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE02c8BCYiy
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEdT0q60Fx
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！125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrJTanFZvW
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs01sw4kfnz
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJdZKRPzxQ
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvosMRsjOM
此地已不宜久留！125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy10V01wpf
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClsDW0FVk9
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4W9i6zo3o
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62YZfUzSn
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah41EMgyDS
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZuUqHRAxD
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNJV04VTsB
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98Yoj4Gydt
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L6615IVZK
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiKTc48pHr
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xxlXLtD5Y
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu3foHGymy
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKRMdyhV4Z
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOYJYk4wlL
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP4z49bCbb
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2G8KbyFuE
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbqAjMMPQO
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUT4kKg1vm
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5mtJJ8M56
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa3kp3N2tU
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mM6MofE1R
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi4sDb1hwI
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5MQCaoeT7
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkZy8W2vnX
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjBdgK6FgU
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8SJ81QipO
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNZbMGyYs0
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRNmb9gTz0
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3okn3UtLCa
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHMI1CKRMe
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR9pIv9cdk
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh2k42Lo5h
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkYpJKKu6b
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xVm2yGKfn
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5zt5HRA6r
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TQvssOk1o
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEHmSxIco4
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNodcVH6qWY
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmERUn2hk4O
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsiS2tdYQg
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqd5LXPC2s
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQGwm5xSSg
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QqGjMtjal
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IroXazBsd
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpw1osqwGC
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy5ox6pscH
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。125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8I9j3rfIs
125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcydQIbTwDw
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。
