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帶隊開始爬山壁的塔庫魯，爬到一半時往後關照一下後面的隊友們
在確定塔庫魯露出興奮又專注的表情，確認他確實有學習的意願後，泰倫斯才點點頭，說道：「好，我來示範一次斧技，你仔細看。時間有限，看你能學多少就學多少！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOrYheT3DD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xwfvo0M0E
塔庫魯用力點頭。他在特遣隊學過短兵器的搏擊術，但這把鐵斧的長度遠超過短刀，揮舞起來簡直像是在揮棒球棍，一味追求力量與準度，從未真正理解長斧的運用。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPb7bMlvpv
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQLH1UBeRl
此刻有機會學到真正的鐵斧戰技，他自然雙眼睜得大大的，目不轉睛。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqNr7rSv7F
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpz3I9Su0P
泰倫斯沉穩地踏出馬步，手腕靈活地控制著斧柄，時而以肩膀作為樞紐劃出圓弧，時而腰部蓄力，讓斧刃如同蛇行閃擊般翻飛。每一斧，既有破壞力，也兼顧了重心與防守的轉換。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsNqotQYFS
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS5e7q8QtR
「記住，」泰倫斯邊演示邊說，「斧子不是單靠蠻力亂砍，是要『牽、引、劈、封』，每一下都有它的脈絡。你用腰轉帶動肩，肩帶動手，力量層層疊加，才能打出真正的破壞。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11rfa7sjV7
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTPdIOLLxi
塔庫魯聽得心頭一震，猛點頭暗記。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI93QXlYk1
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzA9m8hQ1J
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDpzoHxFtD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUobFqBJZ0r
等到公主的法力恢復，已是上午十點多，太陽炙熱刺眼。這時，公主手中的法杖重新亮起淡藍色的光芒，周圍空氣瞬間變得涼爽起來。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHX62ED8ToK
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxJRUytZgN
副隊長泰倫斯開口道：「敬愛的公主，我們這些都是皮糙肉厚的傢伙，應該不需要您這麼費心的浪費法力來為我們降溫庇護吧？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8AT4ATKOy
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0ey5Iq4Gf
公主微笑搖頭：「不是為了降溫。那只是副作用。出了天門後，空氣中有種致命的孢子——『殺手孢子』。除了這位山蠻人，其他人若不幸的吸入一枚，不是立刻死亡，就是痛苦煎熬數日後才死去。我剛才延遲恢復，是因為一邊充能，一邊維持低頻驅毒術，否則大家恐怕早已倒地不起了。抱歉，沒有事先提醒，讓大家誤會了。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvb3YjqjJB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGivvm7gel
露西睜大眼睛問：「那為什麼塔庫魯和那些水牛獸人不怕孢子？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR3Irnhci5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWK96AORWRQ
「他們體質異常強悍，孢子侵蝕不了。但我們人類若是能『化鎧』——哪怕只在體表形成一層薄鎧，也能完全抵抗孢子侵害。」公主解釋。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyzs1BzCAU
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjquB2miXsX
夸斯特笑著說：「問題是，我們要是會『化鎧』的話，也進不了天門。這正是天神族會指定公主必須同行的原因。好了，中午陽光最熾熱，獸人們撐不住，我們得趁勢快進！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu31VdQ9q8Z
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWkZU8iR45
艾利歐特與蓋達領頭，率先踏上通往火炎山的小徑。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0tdpBAfOt
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCo79K28vK
塔庫魯點點頭，又記下一個新名詞：「化鎧」。得找機會弄清楚含義。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJjVNApak6
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhovEbWKpAQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi83ixkBrw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLOTf8Il5q
但才走了沒多久，艾利歐特便打出手勢，示意大家壓低身子藏進路旁草叢。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo2fqdQwOB
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cGfOJaMOf
塔庫魯隨夸斯特靠近，這才看見前方濃密叢林間，隱隱盤據著一隊獸人，似乎為了躲避陽光潛伏在暗處。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvBqjEMJBU
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYXLzyVMBK
更糟的是，回頭望去，剛走過的山徑上，又出現另一隊獸人，緩緩而來。那群獸人顯然具備追蹤技能，循著氣味與足跡，悄悄迫近。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDvLVwCF8I
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsaqQIEXsd
塔庫魯立刻輕拍泰倫斯肩膀，打了個方向手勢。泰倫斯凝神一看，低聲道：「是靈犬獸人，嗅覺異常敏銳。情況不妙，我們逃不了！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeQYVu0wl3
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgt8uTxpIR
說罷，匆匆前去與夸斯特討論。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5RhOrj88X
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaABJie3tyG
很快，夸斯特和泰倫斯回來，對塔庫魯道：「前後皆敵，無路可避。我們得往右側山壁突圍。若我可以給你一條夠長的繩索，你能探條路協助大家一起攀壁上去嗎？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWPDAi2Va6
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIGENtJtg7
塔庫魯打量山壁，那是一道崎嶇陡峭但非垂直的岩壁，到處散布著突出的花崗岩塊，銳利稜角林立。雖難爬，但並非無法。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHfyOvIy5v
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxOyLMl9mx
他果斷點頭：「可以！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1INMWhl3D
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy0XxIcX5U
夸斯特取出一條奇異的青綠繩索，遞給他。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlwZ5Z6FYW
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu7E9WAIJF
「這是『青環索』，節節相連，每節有細毛觸鬚。將它纏繞腰部，前後接觸即可，不需打結。接觸後，它會自動緊纏，不用擔心脫落。」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7th8DliD8h
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUcMtvkI4e
塔庫魯依言纏繞好，再穿上鐵甲。隊員們也陸續完成繩索串聯。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVstHu7GfWM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZJzosO89n
隨即，他帶頭攀登。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTyX7ltVMI
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0zOBB3VoY
山壁下半段有茂密樹蔭掩護，尚未暴露行蹤。但當最後一位——副隊長泰倫斯——攀上數公尺高時，山腳下的靈犬獸人終於發現異狀，急速追來。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATfPErwNVA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimNMWVXRC2
靈犬獸人就如地球的犬科動物一般，極度不善於攀爬。一兩個壯著膽子觸碰山壁，雙腳剛踏上石塊便渾身發抖，狼狽退回地面。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWO2BhDIwd
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4rDGkk30u
四十餘名靈犬獸人聚集山腳，竊竊私語。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj5Pr8kJuE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIgqtLffyc
塔庫魯耳力過人，加上獸人語是他的母語，自然聽得一清二楚。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhIUZJFaaD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lpeRTKuQr
「要不要派人繞道狙擊？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RFUrifJgq
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMcPM9UCGh
「這山壁太高，繞到頂要花一整天。不如交給上面的號角獸人，他們殺了這群人後，屍體掉下來，我們再撿回去吃！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1Zz2Idast
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM75n7k8RYd
塔庫魯聽後，立刻向後方傳遞情報，同時繼續領著隊伍小心攀升。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVGCN0oTXh
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpA3ol11Yp
途中，有兩次隊員因抓握不穩，懸掛半空，幸虧青環索連結牢靠，塔庫魯本身攀附能力又超凡，才安然度過。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hLWMt4Mo2
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp1z6ZSDLD
這正是夸斯特與泰倫斯敢冒險選這條山壁的原因。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L9fmdM6pe
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNC0HXl2rZ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxkxEaXAto
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9YThW2yHs
最終，塔庫魯發現一處形似啞鈴的平台。左右兩端各有半個排球場大小，中間以狹窄小徑連通。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVPvvwKxkA
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqwbwGt68c
右側平台岩石裸露，只有零星草叢；左側則長滿高大雜草。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXubzNKKFQ
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbHDSwwfd5
夸斯特指示眾人休息調整。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lsVKF9xTw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfFp17c0cq
此時，夸斯特、泰倫斯與公主圍在一起討論。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RY4OxiiJj
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjy6DqUNAr
塔庫魯站哨，但因右側這邊的平台並不大，耳中仍能捕捉到他們的交談聲。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNHJ9dRwk1
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrByDdFdFDL
泰倫斯說：「沒聽過什麼號角獸人。既然吃素，應該不兇吧？」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xpNs7W2za
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MIAewJxG2
公主凝重道：「這種獸人既然在名稱有『號角』兩字，又棲息在山壁之上，多半與山羊相似。若真如此，脾氣恐怕是兇猛而好鬥！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc7pbT34OM
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFeNbfmEdm
夸斯特點頭：「無論如何，這裡是他們地盤，我們只會被宰。必須另尋通路！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsH3uDcPPz
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKAUYt6yo4
泰倫斯翻開地圖指著一處：「這附近有條古道，是一百多年前摩登國小隊被追擊時發現的。但大段路面都已崩塌，有些還是被他們自己炸毀的！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdF0FnMymV
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk3mATSID8
夸斯特凝神端詳，公主也湊近查看。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RDIzCIroE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D7WUriBXu
旁邊的蓋達忍不住露出羨慕表情，艾利歐特見狀，連忙把他拉走，避免被發現後，這場面將會很尷尬了。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uJNMQrvdU
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5GUwjIUUP
看來這傢伙是個相當渴望愛情的大男人。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqjghEh3kk
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4c7uyayUE
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFxAJPUOXm
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyzUryhwO3
正此時，塔庫魯警戒地大喊：「上方山壁上面，有數名長著大角的獸人往我們這邊來接近中！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEDJEO8kVD
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HseiWa5rs
眾人抬頭望去，只見一群長著巨大彎角的獸人緩步逼近，那一對長角如號角般的相當壯觀。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl7cxO6uJh
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaHkQZGIyO
夸斯特當機立斷：「塔庫魯帶頭，從小徑穿過去到另一邊的草叢平台！再找機會來接近古道！」47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSOhe9raqw
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBqXqGgUs6
眾人依舊腰繫青環索，連成一線，加快速度。47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnWhvOfEW5
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxabY0dcDA4
公主由兩位女兵護衛，艱難但堅定地穿越狹窄崎嶇的小徑，朝新的平台疾行而去。
