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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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VVBU7ivVZ
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeOnVmr97y
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfkjhsF2p3
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBknvSe6fAl
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLplS6XN9wL
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA1Gaj511D
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPhf4ZifQp
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOU7o25b3b
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOzoCnaxtH
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDIPpjssTt
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyDYVAllxb
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2GmDCiYfF
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyHQM84wWU
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCQbJs3eHY
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrcxTc2P1j
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG3cmv6JaC
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」。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOafSF9WS6q
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVimEwewQy
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！」79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5zJUezGpB
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtPcTR4VUp
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAr8eBUGEi
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfloA12S3Es
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkVAdaRyuZ
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnSiT84EJe
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX9MIHg2zM
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr4Xo2VXyf
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQLPth3Vn2
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcaDA6SrE4
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7Aas9eTW5
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqrbh5HMDV
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC0X1Qbdh7
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOOMfL3I2i
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」。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvuBqoCQda
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM39Rwsunz
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwKrjWT9A2
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF21SjXioY
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMWBJGRi3T
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27AYaG1Ezq
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNfjEMqR6q
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXrREfN412
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNUYFMUz9q
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SvLLykkB1
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZuhiTG9r6
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dQNJcq6EO
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97XdgK0xUx
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3OXAX3YXt
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFFXYrKEA0
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFdPccHfGN
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5KTqItCgo
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jI8hUm2ij
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrwT3Duk6n
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OOeiJsiYG
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaml2Ukoy6q
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvahy3RhmP
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZcBJZAurS
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A6goToh8A
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbhvE0k0w6
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGdcqDmwJx
───79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmYJWYCkBp
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub2l5B9Kva
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlhnbW8Nqg
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjUtzDIWTH
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7DhvsamSM
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRBtMVQcMA
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZMbXQgodp
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BCGNH8UAx
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——79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIyYWWQDXU
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhSOPxB5Z8
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgB3My5j6m
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQBcyEZUot
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZoATQukAu
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxnnvQu6h3
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ocZ4X4Am7
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2rUREpzqS
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwHZeO5KTA
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBmF883JDK
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！79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEthLwzHMO
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd1KggkAlr
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaUNRs0LaH
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYCjiqLEBE
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OZRhXN0dD
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60sD0z0UZ8
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm7jgkPvqv
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbrIoeTGcn
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEz2H0ck9X
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbmAGZnvXe
塔庫魯心中一凜。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTseamefQgL
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3SIzYOaNc
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEljkFtkDw
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nfK76yx0x
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVAyKBgpsE
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGSYpixxc3
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！79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8DLJMCoMQ
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmkw3WwlvE
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UPy67PMoe
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKvtv3tAul
此地已不宜久留！79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC24vfmpOb
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh35pc0U6dO
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyKzCxWjFd
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXugRTCk3n
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjDqKEbkbn
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bh66oel8i
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyx20UPW94
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvU2jvZX9Q
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r9TWit3at
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk4GdmRIBi
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm0TT9eMw1
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOYOqzD9gR
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFPOCvxioj
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyENLWUCev
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Bveev3tyB
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7JtVVkbAR
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjawOfBVinN
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVmohJhZdE
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyZQkMFulN
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBo6ihbPPRI
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNyjPvMHLA
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hUylH14wq
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9gjN9ryeX
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAuqBWNMDm
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrjcCMldtR
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdTme4TNPL
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgiTq8hJND
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0brp3ePQa
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW47eafkcw
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DN2fcjvJC
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhiqIVkYHJ
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXEyViV8cI
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam4eLBSrg3
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOAOypuK6D
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjnrRqjWAA
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnTyWfJeJ3
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F0jIbszHL
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEryKLT1km
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP6C0zL7Vg
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFHyTqx7Ng
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7t2Pdqdsb
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2CUDWbVqp
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjq1vsQtrG
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTYnMbRCaj
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQHogn2DiS
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS15Sxel5Rc
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。79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpjwWOVuJx
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy7Yse852a
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。
