x
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs6P3ii9It
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C5lWUuXKD
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnhF9iI4Bv
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYQoPj3c8o
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HWrL4v59X
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRC4UB6i81
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ScufJUTsR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3inUPRHVp
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0MhJVOkm1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlhFueuNIx
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWMV72FHvF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8alIZARoK6
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyWuxEYeWt
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtzBFRRY99
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKXweK7uzb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdup5KESHV
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」。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikX6JYylPr
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CFTRxqROk
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！」55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wPbgmiREb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvNcpXDhqw
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69jnybFsP1
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJd0mc87Qj
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWBgcSm4Z4
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYRwIhRfzY
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lF62G7AAk
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQWrqqFsnb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87rbDVhrRf
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkcOE2JA8z
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiezFBA6sIl
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JkEkJsZYR
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf9j303k9A
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNqWPb2Bc5
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」。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHO3TooJL6
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSBsDhP6rK
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqUbM3FDcU
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bsPc6fX8X
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VcWnPpAdC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuTfhs7wUX
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmA9FAyoP7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbxrX6RVVz
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSqsCqHv4J
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEfMggfZUI
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX9LQveqgj
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTIIiQGJZW
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOFeLZcAEB
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHyoERQU6y
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBQZba9WRi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dypaiQZrZ
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhRenYzLo7
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmrHPUtUNL
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8Lziw15WG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlqGJurPcV
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8KukoXHjR
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQmnS6ztph
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdPE1aNYt8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfaSo8dmM2
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmZSAcaMTy
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU17FLXIFx
───55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GTB2B8hxg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OrIfIAA9k
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PnNFPvZEq
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOxwn48Xnd
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR3Tz5XOlG
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gh8xveW9T
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQeLId0MAP
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTQDYKpPdY
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——55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5biSo3kCOo
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjWWiUil8S
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhDZ2fXzCg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡha9knf9oiv
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xaMMVIhm8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeL3LFyeJY
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJXk9jmrv8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIPKdh2zuo
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DwQqYI5vA
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUaCFHZLLE
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！55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw423KtYrC4
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIOgGruXTZ
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuxbaB1n7b
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA6Tt9Ld3R
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N0ZRUu8oJ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEi99GfCr4
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoINYgZAZq
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZwWpa45Bo
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrMVU5B7Yi
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDrygGlvlB
塔庫魯心中一凜。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8JwK5Lq1r
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5uDFOF4ip
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiGA7mzhug
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQdtO3q7bx
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIQkuw9wMV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpngpH9MkL
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！55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWaJtRuyKb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaYRgM53rY
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeXfdMi0Wb
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUhGj3hX8d
此地已不宜久留！55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNjuhCCSfl
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EE3JXPk5N
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOiCfAcPDH
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxhPbiyyCl
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCajxIBUyeU
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaIx17gYKA
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZljMRaWIu
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmbr6Mes5r
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMrh5VF9FQ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinyWUF3ao6
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6AYXAFOcw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrqSVtqO4s
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGQLk80WfI
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6dOe97IGS
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSAfQlIOln
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeHRjN4f1c
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bnrgnGdI9
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT6zkXBC8s
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8bAiwEsNK
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTDSuBQLRo
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlNGXNnvzg
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINArDgw3Mh
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpY2L0gC6B
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7V1i0BZhQ
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBKYamPoaC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ytYImbCve
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9obCzNtJS
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xlBGtWYTh
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKOUZxVrEx
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6aNJT0p4
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Apz8cyRD
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfcQcThy9z
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ71jy5T5p
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmGvzipBpk
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sbjxTjUOw
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdnFdLw1sd
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaphqabZBmO
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfHTbkxcC8
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SYBxtDEwq
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjdxbkpcGq
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFp0lLciFC
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9PVbDuxd3
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMVCWwmWRF
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFrbGZN18G
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNCHekFpzV
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKNacmQ4l8
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。55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL1ozKnL4F
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC4icJCIXs
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。
