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將主角等一行人困在山壁上小平臺上的號角獸人，逼得主角等一群人只好鑽進平臺上的一個小地洞去。
塔庫魯才剛鑽進左側那邊滿是高約兩公尺的雜草平臺時，就看見草叢中兩對彎曲如號角般的巨角晃動。他不假思索地猛然揮斧，鐵斧挾帶著呼嘯勁風，兩名尚未察覺異狀的號角獸人便已應聲倒斃於草間。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv81bEwrm4a
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGOf9eNRJj
穿過草叢，塔庫魯抵達另一側的平台邊緣，正遇見一名手持鐵叉的號角獸人從山壁躍來，鐵叉直刺他的胸膛。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hcjg0IwnE
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeHZ2iGBGk
幸而塔庫魯反應神速，長柄鐵斧斜劈，架開攻勢，隨即猛力一腳將對方踹下山崖。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFolJOWMe00
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrRgWH8y4M
一聲淒厲的「啊——」在山谷間回蕩，塔庫魯已瞥見山壁上還有五、六個號角獸人，正攀爬而來。但此刻，所有獸人都暫時停頓，轉而目送那名摔落同伴的身影，神情驚駭。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKBFkG9qvG
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6IYAc0YVr
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjo9hlabuX
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt0yFwxlrl
這時，女兵露西與派緹迅速從草叢中竄出，搭弓連發，箭如驟雨，數名攀爬中的獸人紛紛中箭墜落，重重摔下山谷。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk0sHy8Cbi
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhfkHFYkwk
夸斯特快步趕來，看了看情勢，低聲道：「我們得躲進草叢中固守。在這裸露的山壁上，無法與他們周旋！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NruWN37d6
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURyjeuVnV9
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJTwswS5N8
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOefbwJt1Is
剛才連番箭雨讓敵方士氣受挫，其餘號角獸人退到約五十公尺外的山壁凹陷處，隱身岩石之後，與他們隔空對峙。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8AgGHplhC
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJW8taUw1R
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftkSLPib2I
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jBt0H7YgF
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOfy9nPk2g
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh2LfZOlOk
平台的正上方是近乎光滑的垂直山壁，即便號角獸人擅長攀爬，也無法從此處來發起垂降攻擊；若當真要想強行攀越，只怕是通通要墜落到下方成為一灘肉泥。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuXawVqqm4
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZHj4rPln1
塔庫魯等人分守四方，將公主護於內側山壁邊。其間，敵人曾兩度試圖自高處擲石砸殺塔庫魯——44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT03E8G6xH
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMiXZxLC1E
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2AYJESYSh
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdonDRYGBu
第二次，體積較小的石塊則被他當場一斧劈碎，碎石如雨，轟然滑落谷底，聲勢浩大。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorNp9uPAnv
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2ymg2SZOM
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXe3laWqR8
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHRKg38voE
僵持過了近一個時辰。幸好，這群號角獸人腦筋死板，未曾想到以火攻逼迫。否則，躲藏在草叢中的眾人，恐怕早已葬身火海。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm6XACGl7i
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJBpaYfhNM
蓋達忍不住低聲嘀咕了一句，公主聽後笑著解釋道：「獸人對火懷有極深的敬畏之心。他們信奉火焰是毀滅與重生的化身，不敢輕啟山林之火，以免焚毀世代棲身之地。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4r74ajoRz
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcKjOokGJx
艾利歐特守在小徑旁，聽了會心一笑：「這習慣，真是救了我們一命。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmUUEKWmtQ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5WIkKbeEE
公主接著說：「這片大地有八座火炎山，年年輪流噴發。獸人們與火山為鄰，自小便懂得對火心存敬畏。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jcnDme86D
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6Z0YP0nDb
蓋達皺眉問道：「為什麼八座火山都叫火炎山？不個別為其取名？這樣難道不會搞混嗎？」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFls53DzYTL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGoZsWCt3c
公主淺笑回答：「那是獸人們自己命名的。為了區別，我們通常會在前面加上方位，例如這座便是『西南火炎山』。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0qP06Z0rk
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRG01uThff
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD7jxG6u8k
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbIhWQI3rL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z5icy76mV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLTocLmh67
就在此時，派緹突然警覺地盯著一旁的枯草堆，低聲道：「這堆草，有異樣！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39K8COrB1j
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WRfAB7v3U
夸斯特立刻指示露西護送公主後退。派緹見狀，舉劍挑開枯草，只見下方赫然露出幾根木棍搭起的坑道入口。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTcE3gDmFH
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSHmHduFXM
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU9meDiKUm
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZSeiak4Ah
夸斯特走近觀察，沉思片刻後道：「應該很久沒有人走動了。公主，我有個大膽的主意……」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVYeFZXMep
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWlR6a9MzN
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88oJlSmQdb
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitV6SwqPiR
夸斯特便下令道：「蓋達打頭陣，艾利歐特緊隨。塔庫魯，你最後進入，記得設法把通道入口掩埋！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFow00H7laX
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZhoPdSCdh
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53IsBlRzya
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlghpMsfDM7
眾人小心準備下洞時，塔庫魯已開始動手——他飛快地從草叢中抓取乾草，搓揉成一條條細繩。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmJbM3duBe
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgthbWvZ2Ss
當大半人員已潛入地道後，他退到洞口邊，熟練地將木棍縱橫編織成一個簡易骨架，用草繩緊緊綁緊，隨後再將乾草小心覆蓋於其上。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRLOMxLaC8
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNOIr4LsGZ
在壓好最後一把乾草後，他穩穩地將偽裝物架回洞口上方，草繩一拉，整捆乾草順勢立起，然後短刀一割，草捆散開覆蓋住整個洞口。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij6sBNG6qA
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnxy1hEKat
從外頭望去，應當是要不露絲毫破綻。即使敵人靠近，也難以察覺地底藏著生路。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3jRMJsDSw
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpNZuNmjaQ
確認無光線滲漏後，塔庫魯這才轉身鑽入坑道，輕巧關閉了地面世界的大門。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIk3ECsKpA
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowWdyRXeOz
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8nGtzjOJO
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6PNBULf81
地道內一片昏暗，僅有公主法杖頂端的淡藍光芒，幽微閃爍，引導著眾人前行。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCxKs280Cr
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdEyUqE53W
這條地道不算狹窄，普通人通過綽綽有餘，但對塔庫魯那寬厚如岩熊般的身軀而言，每一步都得小心翼翼，時不時磕碰岩壁。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14KW8N6vZq
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQauLFoeQs
坑道時而下沉，時而上升，蜿蜒曲折，如同某種蠕動的地底巨獸。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PcpXosLt4
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5EuggmGCy
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN8bOLays3
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTnyeUxuHe
蓋達打頭陣，小心翼翼地探頭從門縫中張望，確定無人後，夸斯特下令推門而入。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7biSGfrOts
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsYNBSSZFd
門後，是一間早已被歲月侵蝕的岩室。木桌、木椅、木床，全都朽壞傾斜，空氣中瀰漫著陳舊與沉寂的味道。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUfrVXUKTC
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwHOCVPjkB
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkQk1Aa6ZT
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv33VndEui
眾人索性在這間岩室短暫休息。塔庫魯巨大的身軀堵在進來的門口，將通道緊緊封死，猶如一面堅不可摧的鐵牆。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXGgKptzFc
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN9Pyw2gUY
即便有敵人追蹤至此，遠遠望來，也只會以為這裡已無路可走。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mfp7p6vos
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5xnQ4ndpJ
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY7axy4FVU
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiTSR50A0n
公主低聲為眾人解說：「岩鼠獸人世代鑽營於地底，開鑿岩洞尋找『岩果』——這種稀有的果實能大幅強化獸人的體能。岩鼠獸人本身是純肉食者，需以岩果換取其他食物資源。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNySaOfUPER
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbRMVIEyI1
她頓了頓，接著說道：「在這種狹窄的坑道中，他們近乎無敵。牙齒鋒利如鋼刃，啃咬堅石，築建整個地下世界。他們可以收縮身體穿過狹隘通道，也能鼓脹身體，封堵整個地道！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRKbNBtw4u
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR3hIXfjY4
塔庫魯聽得暗自想像——一群像海豹般柔軟而致命的岩鼠獸人，盤踞在這片地底暗流之中。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7keH2vfOX6
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjdqRXlup8
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbvhcMx6m
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2AYTsbolb
那聲音低微而遙遠，彷彿有人正用尖銳的圓鍬，不斷撥弄脆弱的岩石。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnU1THSefh
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsegrHWsI6t
夸斯特神情凝重地貼耳傾聽，招呼泰倫斯與艾利歐特一同判斷，但無論怎麼辨別，都無法確定聲音從哪條通道傳來。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8giK6UYNM
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3C9qVMIwn5
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPEMIY2FFL
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrRvvopzhj
夸斯特點了點頭，斷然下令：「既如此，從左邊地道前進。那方向應該更靠近山壁外側！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXSyohLVfY
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1HhwDMrQF
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3znizhV3qV
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOHRbNmD8s
艾利歐特微笑點頭，臨出發前還與派緹對望一眼，後者回以甜甜的微笑——44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaEf5HkcR8
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaF4FN55jt
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t0WbgjV1h
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQOwwGvh4x
副隊長泰倫斯不經意地看了看剩下的露西——這個外表甜美、個性卻剛烈的女兵。他苦笑搖頭，自知已有家室，自然不敢妄動。44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39u5LZW6nD
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeCp0sRQap
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKphKN65uO
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTAzbhWVyK
無論怎麼想，都很難想像這兩個肌肉怪物能與露西這樣的金髮女戰士牽起紅線。
