在人稱「女皇陛下」的斯圖希安第四十一任總統伽瑪親臨前線發施號令之際，這邊廂由婭基昂絲與艾斯托利克兩國組成的艾婭聯軍亦開始察覺到敵方暗地放出的「殺手鐧」，紛紛帶著畏懼、撤退回到魔導大學，部分更是不惜穿過密林地帶、避走至預言鎮這第二補給點去。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM0xTVruCT
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即便是魔導大學這處屹立前線的要塞，騎士們亦開始為連串不明朗的戰報而提心吊膽著。踏入黑夜，五輪明月依然高掛天邊，他們幾乎都躲進宿舍大樓裡，為了隨時重啟的戰火，與及迴避未知殺機而沉默。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazSSc5pSqo
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「……快告訴我他在哪裡。」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gsa5NHuM7
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轉移術式的輝光散去後，以太便忍著撕心裂肺般的痛楚，捂著水晶覆蓋的左半臉邊跌撞走在步道上邊質問緊隨在後的克西。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dldQzqKXA
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「主神閣下別緊張、別緊張，本大爺現在就帶你過去～」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigWldjPCMf
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見這「金毛主神」腳步浮浮，甚至幾乎撞到路旁燈柱，克西便揹起躺在身邊、仍昏迷不醒的「小不點騎士團長」，快步走到他前方，刻意讓自己身上一襲鮮明的裝扮刺激他那矇矓兩眸。要不是要把以太帶到派恩身邊，克西或許就會隨即踏上滑板車，把背上這位「包袱」丟回去那幫騎士手上。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfSa8BV7ac
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而見這飄忽不定的身影輕快從身邊掠過，以太便強撐身子，勉強緊隨克西之後，來到斷片四散的尖角儀器前。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa1m1C0DWm
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「啊！克西，你回來了……」正蹲地守候在派恩身旁的柔伊回過頭來，抹去疲態，便赫見克西旁邊捂著頭、緩步靠近的以太，隨即驚呼道：「哇哇！您沒事吧？！」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZRY2NNpyJ
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「小柔伊，金毛主神就交給妳了～」說罷克西便一個轉身，抬起腳掌踏上驟現跟前的滑板車，起步前仍不忘斜眼望向走到派恩面前的以太，笑說：「可別忘了你也欠本大爺一份人情啊，金毛主神～」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkh4HbknHI
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「克西？！」在克西滑步離開之際，柔伊這下才注意到他背在身後的繆兒，暗地裡知道克西十八不離九是要把他送回去騎士團那邊，因此也沒對其加以阻撓。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM5KxNo3VE
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而這邊廂，自知自身能耐即將來到極限，以太唯有速戰速決，快手撥弄起周遭元素，再度讓六色刀刃在其手中顯現，插進派恩紫紅制服下的胸口裡。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahpgtbSWZB
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「沒想到，永劫之輪還是落到你頭上了。」以太傲慢地斜瞄了派恩一眼，其後才一臉不情願地半跪到他身邊。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4vGWciXOQ
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「我終於……等到這一天了。」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh00O9eX3x
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六色強光包圍下，氣若游絲的派恩用力睜開兩眼，望向正集中施法淨化自身詛咒的故友，努力把他久違的臉孔收進意識裡。即使望見對方滿臉嫌棄，見慣他這副嘴臉的派恩此刻反而感到莫名地安穩，深信他不會拋下自己不顧。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7G1tMo1aq
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「我就知道，終有一日……我們會再見面。」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtge9EgeeY
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派恩話語至此，兩臂不自覺地伸起，任性地想再一次觸摸這副教他著迷的軀殼，一圓他暌違百年的盼望。時光荏苒，轉眼百年星霜已不復返。在數不清的久遠年月積累下，或許只有故友無恙歸來一刻，才能讓博識多才的青年失去理性，甚至把研究拋諸腦後。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWrKVytd1y
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在失去他的數百年間，始界早已不是他們曾經並肩踏足的那個繁榮盛世。「蒼鐵事件」使古國衰敗沒落、成為今日的婭基昂絲，其後斯圖希安以至艾斯托利克相繼在古國曾經的領土上立旗建國，這一切一切，都是他成為以太峰上永不溶解的冰晶之後，始界正在發生的巨變。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkkKRAJM8H
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「哼……你還是一點都沒有變過。」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1y4uDs0LY
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而最令派恩欣慰的，是眼前這位故友仍然如數百年前那般恃勢凌人，一貫傲氣彷彿釋除了自己數百年來的顧慮，總算為他帶來丁點安穩。一直以來，派恩恐懼對方在捨身平息災難之後，往昔的回憶就會隨他長眠而永遠消失。正因如此，這些日子來他都一昧逃避、不敢踏足以太峰，生怕深埋峰頂的這位故友再不認得自己是誰。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi6osWsRMz
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「咳咳！正態之物啊……快為我……」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q8YpiQE6a
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深陷皮肉的六色刀刃開始被紫黑色邪氣沾染，經刀身滲透至以太體內，侵擾他意識深處，為本來將近臨界的軀體再加重擔。身心俱疲之下，以太仍不願放開手，把身上傷勢與心力消耗所帶來的苦痛統統吞下，加重力度向六色刀刃施力。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0tZxyDiCc
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「……顛倒你的本性！」在他竭盡氣力喊出一聲命令同時，紫黑邪念便被強行壓成一團聚集掌心，在以太另一手變出的光刀切割之下徹底粉碎。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS7jEb2gRl
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事成過後，眼見故友逐漸恢復意識，以太在鬆一口氣的同時，隨即又掉轉頭來，讓血雨從嘴巴噴出，濺滿一地。到了此刻，這副桀驁不馴的神體，即使早已消耗過度、筋疲力竭，仍然不情願在故友面前倒下。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeer3MXlRfa
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而從痛苦中得到解放的派恩托好眼鏡，緩緩挺起虛弱身子，手臂才剛搭在以太肩膀上，對方突如後仰的身子突然壓在臂彎上，幾乎令派恩失去平衡倒地。508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUAiVo0vzE
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「以太？你沒事吧？！以太！」508Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYvGJKffW4
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然而失去知覺的以太只管傍在派恩懷裡，一動不動，任由血流從嘴角溢出。
