
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
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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
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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。118Please respect copyright.PENANAPHdxAb1CrD
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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。118Please respect copyright.PENANA4vRvkOOSmn
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而塔庫魯,便是其中最離譜的一位之一。118Please respect copyright.PENANAF4U9CvnN1G
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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
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另一回,他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。118Please respect copyright.PENANABe7zKg1GN2
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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事實上,山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。118Please respect copyright.PENANATLNd1sDSU3
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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到了第四天,他總算走到了熟悉的地形。118Please respect copyright.PENANAEHAdeCBvIr
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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無奈之下,他決定再次下到谷地,親自尋路。118Please respect copyright.PENANA28s3ZOV1Xz
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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
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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
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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
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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
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遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲!118Please respect copyright.PENANAieaU1OYwar
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塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後,貼地潛伏。118Please respect copyright.PENANAmocXMAnkNA
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不久,一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。118Please respect copyright.PENANAn8C95NJnEj
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他瞇起眼,仔細辨認。118Please respect copyright.PENANAegJLn5EXpl
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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
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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
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騎兵們動作一致,顯得訓練有素。118Please respect copyright.PENANA26YAIFzyfS
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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
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一切動作,乾淨俐落,毫無拖泥帶水。118Please respect copyright.PENANAd5hTm1jsdJ
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塔庫魯心中一凜。118Please respect copyright.PENANA2b12Md6gSc
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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
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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!118Please respect copyright.PENANAUB4BGAiNKn
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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
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此地已不宜久留!118Please respect copyright.PENANAQH6TTXPxcn
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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這些硬甲上,長滿了鋒利的棘刺,如同倒鉤般危險。118Please respect copyright.PENANAdlOhfx7Wcx
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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
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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
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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
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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
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這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。118Please respect copyright.PENANAO23jfznLct
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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
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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
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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。118Please respect copyright.PENANAAChzDt8PFO
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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
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進入林間,他如龍入大海般自在。118Please respect copyright.PENANAb8d62Ff754
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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。118Please respect copyright.PENANA4xep0q99xJ
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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。118Please respect copyright.PENANAwNF5GEVrSA
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但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。118Please respect copyright.PENANAvsDVmJgzPv
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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
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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。