好像沒有盡頭的石階一直往下探去,我懷疑自己已經到了比地下海底部還更深的地方了。不知道如果通過地心,重力反轉是什麼感覺?只是穀神星的引力這麼弱,可能也不太能感覺出差異來。339Please respect copyright.PENANAVGxyT5AZWU
339Please respect copyright.PENANAfz9DE5ybWX
終於,石階停止下降,我抵達了一個巨大的空曠洞窟,這就是黯牙的巢穴。339Please respect copyright.PENANAI85IC4RAdQ
339Please respect copyright.PENANAGffEf1ivS8
洞窟的岩壁上頭布滿了密密麻麻的凹槽,放置了各式各樣看不出來功能的東西,應該至少有幾千個,而其中有一些外觀奇異的,在紅外線視覺之下閃閃發光。339Please respect copyright.PENANAS3EjZ8utbK
339Please respect copyright.PENANAloyOF9fkuJ
我有聽見水流的聲響,但判斷不出來出入水孔在哪裡。灌注進來的暗流形成了一片湖泊,中央看起來有一個平台。339Please respect copyright.PENANAhLWHKzlUiY
339Please respect copyright.PENANAZxwKBOPQQf
「飛龍無翼,上前。」莊嚴的歌聲在洞窟中引起了共鳴,幾顆歐吉拉水晶因為特定的音調,閃爍了幾下白光,讓我看清楚了中央平台上的生物。339Please respect copyright.PENANAqjjXf03sY5
339Please respect copyright.PENANAuCu7EJsxEe
巨大的身軀和粗長的頸部覆滿靛紫色的鱗片,身體和翅膀末梢的羽毛也是相近的顏色,但更深。而那黃色眼睛,僅僅一瞬間的對視,就將我徹底看透。339Please respect copyright.PENANAosDcreBFT5
339Please respect copyright.PENANAGJX3RfSr4L
睿智.開拓者.黯牙,現存最年長的古龍,盤踞在如同王座的平台上,湖底有許多物件也因為那一瞬間的光亮而閃爍。339Please respect copyright.PENANAFhQ9TOY4js
339Please respect copyright.PENANAdHWN1cjhXh
雖然有從一些畫像和書籍中知道古龍的樣子,但第一次親眼見到還是讓我被震懾到無法動彈──那些記錄根本沒有捕捉到這身姿千萬分之一的壯麗。339Please respect copyright.PENANAjQStnbUQVg
339Please respect copyright.PENANAeTflOqaNt7
「飛龍無翼,上前。」他再度唱道,帶著好奇旋律,洞窟這次閃過的是藍光。339Please respect copyright.PENANAe6iApmEB2L
339Please respect copyright.PENANAgXM5pHas79
很少有成年龍族決定進入飛昇長眠,除了這是擁有第三名者的特權,以及至少會耗費百年但又無法保證成功轉化的因素之外,由於身體結構將完全改變而不再能夠說話這點,對失去歌聲者來說是一個很大的問題。不過想到自己有獲得這種型態的可能性時,我突然有了股躍躍欲試的衝動。339Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ij0sytmrA
339Please respect copyright.PENANA01P0RMBvxc
不過,一件事情一件事情來好了,黯牙顯然要我到他身前,我猜這應該是某種測驗。339Please respect copyright.PENANAAOGAvdALso
339Please respect copyright.PENANAx0kAzf5Cwj
我環顧著洞窟,想找到有什麼幫助我渡過寬廣的湖面的載具,不過好像沒有類似的東西。直接游過去嗎,這樣會不會有點不得體?黯牙會在乎這種事情嗎?339Please respect copyright.PENANA6TcKF59OhN
339Please respect copyright.PENANAz6B7afPXXS
我抓了抓頭,不太確定該怎麼做。339Please respect copyright.PENANAv3hHId5GGS
339Please respect copyright.PENANAu5eM4mBsXm
我聽見黯牙吸氣的細微聲響,推測這應該是他準備再次唱出旋律的準備動作。339Please respect copyright.PENANAsm825snnms
339Please respect copyright.PENANAZjnnAWeojk
讓長老催促這麼多次,可就不禮貌了。339Please respect copyright.PENANAhOkcyb3DVs
339Please respect copyright.PENANAEJNYqaMyOP
我屏除所有沒幫助的雜念,向前跨出一步,踏上湖面。339Please respect copyright.PENANAbyXy0Om9Zl
339Please respect copyright.PENANA1kEmH9M1Ao
在我意料之外的,某個硬物撐住了我的鞋底。湖面之下,有什麼透明的東西,提供像是踏墊的功能通往中央平台。339Please respect copyright.PENANAkCWLgTsa4b
339Please respect copyright.PENANARHXF2AnkCe
黯牙發出某種轟鳴,讓空間震動,我想那應該是古龍笑出來的聲音。此時我在水晶閃爍的紅光中,看清楚了腳下晶柱的樣子。339Please respect copyright.PENANA4ulpusm6x0
339Please respect copyright.PENANAiQnUsFYyqM
理解了黯牙從一開始便不斷給我提示,但我卻決定直接跳進湖裡游上平台,這種尷尬情緒讓我不由自主地抓了抓後腦。339Please respect copyright.PENANAynn2JeCamG
339Please respect copyright.PENANACdRwQU8w3d
「無所畏懼,挑戰者不知踟躕。」黯牙在我抵達他身前時以愉悅旋律唱道,周遭的晶體開始發出穩定的白光。「勇往直前,無翼龍不曾墜落。」長老放低巨大的龍首,黃色的眼睛和我平視。「但三名的持有者應該要知道,謹慎是通向睿智的踏腳石。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAsHqPQYa0qe
339Please respect copyright.PENANAgiuRZa81VR
我低下頭,表達謙遜的接收教誨。不過我注意到這句話中的另一個意義。339Please respect copyright.PENANAfi9eXTfvbv
339Please respect copyright.PENANAh2QkrCJyho
我走回湖邊,將手伸進水中,將先前當作立足點的其中一塊透明晶體撈起來。和我的手掌差不多大,是長方體。在黯牙微笑的默許下,我將這別具深意的禮物收好。339Please respect copyright.PENANANDpmMbhba8
339Please respect copyright.PENANA00m087avn0
「尊者自長眠中甦醒,給予我無價智慧。無翼該如何回報此等饋贈?」我向黯牙深深鞠躬,起身後以渴求旋律唱道。339Please respect copyright.PENANAHZgeTo4SEz
339Please respect copyright.PENANA4xrdBiSAgW
「飛龍無翼,請聽我吟唱,垂垂老者的驕傲、盼望,和懊悔。」黯牙將頭仰起長嚎,完全展開的巨大羽翼上,鱗片和羽毛反射著四周水晶隨著共鳴閃耀的各種色彩。339Please respect copyright.PENANApKB0mWrE6J
339Please respect copyright.PENANAKABzFp6Obj
「最終審判者已經甦醒,其心志綻放的璀璨光輝,照亮虛無一物的寰宇。339Please respect copyright.PENANAeHTUDIPBWC
339Please respect copyright.PENANAB5NNgOviN3
黯淡的藍點使他圓滿,消逝的湛藍將他破碎。339Please respect copyright.PENANAv4zGRDDzht
339Please respect copyright.PENANARM9MNdeHPB
鮮紅的雙眼看盡一切,空洞的心靈容納所有。339Please respect copyright.PENANARDAQNFnWpD
339Please respect copyright.PENANAYhy7ymoCmS
回顧過往既定的錯誤,看見未來可能的願景。339Please respect copyright.PENANAkehU68xyg7
339Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ0ehBm1UE
完成爾等必然的旅途,裁決汝等生靈的命運。339Please respect copyright.PENANA2bRw7HyVTB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAy9kY0LpWHH
審判者為何人,為何人要被審判?339Please respect copyright.PENANAjWnY91GD87
339Please respect copyright.PENANANAl3Bp8jga
此等大哉問,起源於千年以前,妄自試圖型塑未來的七人:339Please respect copyright.PENANALi6RUtqfVp
339Please respect copyright.PENANADsqePn5baz
最富裕者,控制了天空、陸地,和海洋,宣稱所有道路皆為他所開。339Please respect copyright.PENANAvmTayLN96b
339Please respect copyright.PENANAbnfA5c8VQQ
最機敏者,掌握了文字、語言,和訊息,操縱所有事實皆為他所用。339Please respect copyright.PENANA83oVLTkyLX
339Please respect copyright.PENANABDdfkkZbah
最務實者,占有了田野、山巔,和居所,迫使所有形骸皆為他所役。339Please respect copyright.PENANAbrxeqFAcMW
339Please respect copyright.PENANAKzwC77HK83
最聰慧者,杜撰了知識、資訊,和資料,引導所有心智皆為他所使。339Please respect copyright.PENANAllPaBqctmR
339Please respect copyright.PENANAwRfsgFTEwS
最玲瓏者,施展了奇蹟、義舉,和聖戰,牧養所有屬靈皆為他所率。339Please respect copyright.PENANAhQpnKQWpXU
339Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ802Yhuyb
最遠慮者,創造了毒藥、解藥,和食物,壟斷所有收穫皆為他所享。339Please respect copyright.PENANAtJKUgMHZeH
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtAytaP1Ovj
最愚蠢者,抬頭仰望星空,他只想要找到更寬廣的世界,足以容下所有人自由翱翔。339Please respect copyright.PENANAfTBx3IuMUs
339Please respect copyright.PENANAs7T1WGIOmf
七人皆相識,彼此結盟,於暗處控制世界的走向。339Please respect copyright.PENANAoUgstGsFh0
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtA6DI7YFG9
以暗語作為鑰匙,在陰影中上演最精細的傀儡戲碼。339Please respect copyright.PENANA2qJOf0faIA
339Please respect copyright.PENANAiGGEUFMvwg
七人皆有罪,不分輕重,在最終結算到來時償付。339Please respect copyright.PENANALP0t9kRcag
339Please respect copyright.PENANArvvfljJOei
以記憶作為基石,在審判中呈上最真誠的心思理念。339Please respect copyright.PENANAHcrvNfcKGM
339Please respect copyright.PENANA1KhoErxuOJ
潮汐起落、帝國興衰、文明消長,七名操偶師,忽略了自身綁著的絲線。339Please respect copyright.PENANAXYhlLi5sJG
339Please respect copyright.PENANAP82uMKdbv6
當瞭解自身處在更加宏大的布局中,其中六人變本加厲,擅自揣測侷限的猜想,意圖拼湊出滿足自身定義的結局。339Please respect copyright.PENANAmrpW98NKqE
339Please respect copyright.PENANAr2uyoG7SgA
最愚蠢者發誓要記取教訓,脫離六人,獨自守護秘密跨越無數世紀。但無奈漫長歲月,被遺忘的比被記住的多,最愚蠢者再次辜負了自己。」339Please respect copyright.PENANATlUtKPceUi
339Please respect copyright.PENANAhoEJTPPGKC
黯牙的身體垮了下來,神情看起來非常疲憊,洞窟中的晶體發出的光也逐漸黯淡。339Please respect copyright.PENANAMSwUoGvAli
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtnW1337c33
「在所有無用的知識、懊悔的記憶中,最愚蠢者只能依稀記得,第一幕將會在月球上演。」黯牙將龍首放到我面前,低聲繼續唱道。339Please respect copyright.PENANABW1XDEjlTB
339Please respect copyright.PENANAjDVRojRmaB
「找到審判者,贈與我殘破的記憶,指出通往和解的道路,避免我們的毀滅;339Please respect copyright.PENANAmNkAxSYpX4
339Please respect copyright.PENANAtWUs7nNuKB
協助審判者,奉上我混濁的雙眸,洞悉眾獸真實的樣貌,看穿表象的虛幻;339Please respect copyright.PENANAoUuU7ChLIW
339Please respect copyright.PENANAAJQapaeCwN
轉告審判者,傾聽我最後的吟唱,記住最愚蠢者的失敗,理解暗語的真意。」339Please respect copyright.PENANAhC7iMPRBus
339Please respect copyright.PENANAbXQejVNJRe
黯牙歪過了頭,向我展示了他那顆黑曜石般的突出獠牙。「適格者無翼,你是否願意承受此禮物,以及相對應的重擔?」339Please respect copyright.PENANAmE5gROz1IS
339Please respect copyright.PENANA9hjt31r1mF
仍然沉醉在那宏大到無法想像的歌聲中,我有點頭重腳輕的單膝跪下,低垂視線。「生而為此。」我能從歌聲中傳遞過來的影像看到更多東西,但太多、又太混亂了,我可能需要很多時間梳理。但是我能理解,這件事情有多重要,還有,我是適格者的原因。339Please respect copyright.PENANAQqpFGbmXh9
339Please respect copyright.PENANAmAPPAqR4WX
黯牙好像鬆了一口氣一樣,緩緩的眨了下眼睛,將黑曜石般的突出獠牙刺入我的肩膀。339Please respect copyright.PENANA9761AjPzdt
339Please respect copyright.PENANARYQRc87FCD
剛開始,除了刺痛感之外沒有別的感覺。接著,像是流動的火焰在我的血管中亂竄一樣。所有臟器、肌肉、骨骼和神經,都在瘋狂的尖叫。我就像是被完全拆解開來,撒入太空中,然後,再一個分子一個分子的重新組裝。339Please respect copyright.PENANAE3MGtTNHb6
339Please respect copyright.PENANAMKcN3tjaMl
重新意識到自己在呼吸時,已經不知道過去了多久。我搖搖晃晃的站了起來,看著將自己縮成一團的黯牙。長老似乎再次進入了長眠,他將尾巴上的羽毛蓋住頭部,身體以非常緩慢的固定節奏起伏著。339Please respect copyright.PENANACyKAeRJ8pp
339Please respect copyright.PENANAY3RGh08jRN
但是我能感覺到,好像……有什麼東西。339Please respect copyright.PENANALhnmcLKyq5
339Please respect copyright.PENANAXn07I2mLde
「Dif-tor heh smusma。」339Please respect copyright.PENANASSrT3ncrKl
339Please respect copyright.PENANAO479G2hPJr
突如其來在腦海中響起的語句讓我差點跳了起來,我能夠認出這是黯牙的聲音,和歌聲的音色差不多。我又看了一眼顯然已經進入沉睡的古龍,沒有甦醒的跡象。339Please respect copyright.PENANAh9jvdOBXiH
339Please respect copyright.PENANAjLLfgqdeAh
「這是我的暗語,記好,最後會派上用場的。」黯牙的聲音再次傳來。339Please respect copyright.PENANAqHML0FCGU8
339Please respect copyright.PENANABxjgjJRzjB
「謹遵指令,睿智.開拓者.黯牙。」我試著模仿,將思緒傳遞出去,得到的回應是一陣友善的笑聲,和表示他需要休息的疲憊感。339Please respect copyright.PENANAytqID0Zk04
339Please respect copyright.PENANA3alq0ImN0n
原路折返,我踩著石階,思索著,同時感覺到,有什麼東西……不,是很多東西,在我的……我的……感覺範圍之內。我不知道該怎麼描述,有點像是眼角餘光中有許多小點,想要單獨集中在其中一個上頭就會失焦,但能很清楚的知道,他們在那裡。339Please respect copyright.PENANAC2sFPFjhmw
339Please respect copyright.PENANAA0a9ukbd9V
我無法理解其中原理,但我能感覺到,上方隔離艙外多了一組人。我想,他們會和我解釋情況。339Please respect copyright.PENANA9wMehH3OM3
339Please respect copyright.PENANA2DhkvqQAG8
在那扇通往隔離艙的門緩緩開啟時,我握了握收在胸前口袋的透明晶體,知道世界在這之後,將再也不同。