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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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHgki7IAEO
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUqcx0vJ23
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtfJdC542d
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoR8WWOZZf
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRMJNroXrU
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55VOt6rLog
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtzCW6wmPM
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5k1Jv6FVO
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8Ha7z0QFq
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3C8IPwGb8
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqCJT6JP6y
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9g6N8x6GL
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgstHRxTilq
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHraLzerUN
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlTtoYrAKK
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pSQBlBA9a
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」。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88dmllqqSl
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UhvXSBvLy
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！」78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstgOCnja0n
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyLiVAhalF
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rs1mL5cse
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoIOTY7v4s
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgOaM3mJLR
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxP472Xmrd
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC8KdIsHtk
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNuJrx2dxE
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMGXjWeXiu
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3BJnJRvqz
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IF7ckM1Zw
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5jTfudjiC
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyejL0ZhRad
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrQI9VYry8
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」。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPlNCepU4Q
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhVViA5MjD
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2GQCwminA
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPKJoOImf0
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXmDMTpc1q
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iuKO6XvEk
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C3BG5aHj0
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zi9hHmWbQ
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizY7QKzOd1
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOyDRI83tR
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo34zGGmYOk
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOZdKK7jmZ
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwneAIlRpkD
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9awJkufNia
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iQhKyxi3o
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68OhPzEzzc
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbgnHVAlsu
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegPNbiDwMB
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv3JuFr0ke
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHzTImcbHQ
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbRmB1inTi
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9La615XVk9
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1Xk5pW0tb
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGYFU0UyAu
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1oSwxjolT
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtlmUfx0Tz
───78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l96Nfvzga
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgrPeVcJoG
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8jTSsY7ft
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKKqCWA9Zi
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwfI0Q9lgj
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylFwdjKVWz
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCtmmTXOMS
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7U0llKGiX4
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——78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy90pklXaUy
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxSfLjIJBB
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgfz2m4f4V
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmiTVbBQJl
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfepglAfpsj
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzzVztS8qz
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnIuruVhPV
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8HbKVQ3Vl
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBfpc56ij8
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyO5GSSjiP
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！78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eCM0cMBH9
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyxUMlqkMc
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9jGEOXEgv
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JyCMosm6q
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpbaKZfcTB
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdbTsg8JWK
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkz7fLsXNL
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeVKr5ncG6
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMioCEkoQW
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNlNRE90HV
塔庫魯心中一凜。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVxCPTtq0Q
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa2LsSYtlV
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEvikpC81K
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3778yo6GLI
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmHlPYkLS5
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e3BBUKjHw
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！78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi1i34JicE
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknv6k4PsR1
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHSpONar8L
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJGwm51ZxY
此地已不宜久留！78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9hTKwoLsZ
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8l4omcQQ9
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMgL9zkWaG
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsm4VmEekx
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDd3x5zqBe
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCtgpVXyDU
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm95G3gK6ZI
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ79JuJZBQ1
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NyxKlArJc
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Alpp4IAW5
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHN5bJGksG
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3vIQErOIL
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bcQYT3OY8
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwOcG86wVj
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqgzpRispT
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoPsjO6FEJ
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbHsGdz5Af
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EoJY0p6er
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NnVaVxsSn
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguQTkdPrtF
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCoZ8Jwef3
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYovE5bZtPV
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSpMa5SFBK
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmxux5YGrA
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcw11LaHpu
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlr5suYZzQ
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRvY7BZXe7
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yVqnM8Td0
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQo2EuhPK8
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJbhemMMQY
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcfsvnW5OD
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q89E8QK9n
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUjUdNktAt
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR4Y5bWYfW
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTtqw93eHH
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpt3aIc36s
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmPL0G8iIA
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloSCK1vpPZ
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq9wWoYnO6
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw3aUhQdLn
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2tvoeaqQk
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxTwuJa3rE
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT0ignNB3J
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfSI6hPCM2
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oR7FWqWSY
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsegaqnzMO
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。78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCrWbBplyU
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdoPhTX8Pa
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。
