x
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jrpsk8XeA
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgZWRHih3f
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnCNuM0VTH
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyddt4jFX4I
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLNSOpSOBV
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SGGKB7syg
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyd2j6k4gN
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JHvC9E7fh
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VMyNDeiL2
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEogNoB0WB
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX8BDQc3SY
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoKPkavdVd
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！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNTm1L4w4q
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EYN5Ozili
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQISnSehyV
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECRddWv6bW
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WwWnLyipD
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ98en5af49
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9xJiQ5bwQ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRMgu5iRVw
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY7zshpaw2
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHlb8u4IXi
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8pdtvtaAL
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmccuhS8QyJ
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——17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWSqw0Ko23
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxtPzReR6U
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm4Hr35FxA
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlGAKJWdQ0
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOVmPP0mpe
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA4t0bb335
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrWuv6RBNP
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfSgUM4PnA
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa27hF8x1Q
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYZCVY113Q
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。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCajz66KqwA
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v4E8sKEd0
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。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3xtS9MDrd
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGwyVVI6tA
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。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNtFYmE60C
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHiCm44dMe
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？」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1JgYVaa9F
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2x0D3i54a
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』。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3toinkfZ6
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjfo03nES9
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhrL70zbfK
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sJ0HGuRQg
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW8zcrR8hN
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokCClXcGRL
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！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a0UyHOx45
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZLPl1JjNU
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryCDniHzu0
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxd13hCBFM
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqL0YATvRoI
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaFNMEPkxU
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……」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87iwJU4pxY
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXsLaUA0nF
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRxnEDq5uP
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1GY7xrNGh
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！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2eUOE3lFO
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXgkMIhBZ4
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKItMpCxXll
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz8w2Txb81
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZc2JxaSh5
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWbh3JbLH7
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDLjqxD1dd
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsLPu9Y6W2
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIK4J0xLhc
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIn6P1rTnq
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1VdbVRb4d
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBIUESL7bb
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n1kXkgMv1
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzAsL0d1m5
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaPV58EYoz
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSqOuPMsES
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5qgeU9OO8
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFVJeu9aaK
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7PWLz7n9X
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLxrt7BqRn
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kLBPkIHHd
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fcCSX7otE
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4AfZJ52lU
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EQVaUZKsO
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bBLaDF7hj
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4czCDTRj96
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS4ITpnZe9
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9fe7zSeDp
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOq9peBQcAs
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNshwnl5o7
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuDEcMEomN
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CjjxWhkwy
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg2KWS8bAZ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHDKUG8A9e
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbNURKhvil
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJlS1zQi8l
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。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBHqxLEECG
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwGlYacNsc
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！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnl09ZfAqg
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsxVDrUKif
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGySk196ctL
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mMA8YZZCS
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHQH0OENQ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT60KfZewN
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGznInSYOo
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tIhCjyNyz
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZILer0WhCC
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP2xsd0T91
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4raPRSWJIL
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ltdcfvVOe
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！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea7WbA5nwJ
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcl7Qv19nF
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0yDRKVN7J
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgzAdW6kkn
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——17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYIsXLzfWD
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TvObunWgp
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsaFElBlhF
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWihZAqFv4K
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。17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nA7Krm0It
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUqFGQ4eif
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiT10qZPu5h
17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD3z31dUgJ
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。
