好像沒有盡頭的石階一直往下探去,我懷疑自己已經到了比地下海底部還更深的地方了。不知道如果通過地心,重力反轉是什麼感覺?只是穀神星的引力這麼弱,可能也不太能感覺出差異來。369Please respect copyright.PENANAA27zBENvhh
369Please respect copyright.PENANAzWJEqainvZ
終於,石階停止下降,我抵達了一個巨大的空曠洞窟,這就是黯牙的巢穴。369Please respect copyright.PENANABxDXIlEDKi
369Please respect copyright.PENANAvXVHPvSzOP
洞窟的岩壁上頭布滿了密密麻麻的凹槽,放置了各式各樣看不出來功能的東西,應該至少有幾千個,而其中有一些外觀奇異的,在紅外線視覺之下閃閃發光。369Please respect copyright.PENANAIjxY9kfSmK
369Please respect copyright.PENANA6YaDl48T8S
我有聽見水流的聲響,但判斷不出來出入水孔在哪裡。灌注進來的暗流形成了一片湖泊,中央看起來有一個平台。369Please respect copyright.PENANAwTH8gYCOSc
369Please respect copyright.PENANAbEyHDHItI8
「飛龍無翼,上前。」莊嚴的歌聲在洞窟中引起了共鳴,幾顆歐吉拉水晶因為特定的音調,閃爍了幾下白光,讓我看清楚了中央平台上的生物。369Please respect copyright.PENANAuKP7ZYXUyB
369Please respect copyright.PENANA0xDYEqWat5
巨大的身軀和粗長的頸部覆滿靛紫色的鱗片,身體和翅膀末梢的羽毛也是相近的顏色,但更深。而那黃色眼睛,僅僅一瞬間的對視,就將我徹底看透。369Please respect copyright.PENANA6TaNnvmYGH
369Please respect copyright.PENANAEUz9RKBXcs
睿智.開拓者.黯牙,現存最年長的古龍,盤踞在如同王座的平台上,湖底有許多物件也因為那一瞬間的光亮而閃爍。369Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q9pyMM24S
369Please respect copyright.PENANAH7A5BpMAX7
雖然有從一些畫像和書籍中知道古龍的樣子,但第一次親眼見到還是讓我被震懾到無法動彈──那些記錄根本沒有捕捉到這身姿千萬分之一的壯麗。369Please respect copyright.PENANAl52wvUg0Gy
369Please respect copyright.PENANAwjE7calEHp
「飛龍無翼,上前。」他再度唱道,帶著好奇旋律,洞窟這次閃過的是藍光。369Please respect copyright.PENANAFt4HSQer7R
369Please respect copyright.PENANAIIakrMplX3
很少有成年龍族決定進入飛昇長眠,除了這是擁有第三名者的特權,以及至少會耗費百年但又無法保證成功轉化的因素之外,由於身體結構將完全改變而不再能夠說話這點,對失去歌聲者來說是一個很大的問題。不過想到自己有獲得這種型態的可能性時,我突然有了股躍躍欲試的衝動。369Please respect copyright.PENANAWHxdulZWaW
369Please respect copyright.PENANAG1IFMt1pCH
不過,一件事情一件事情來好了,黯牙顯然要我到他身前,我猜這應該是某種測驗。369Please respect copyright.PENANAbdeDPXqub2
369Please respect copyright.PENANAQAf7DxdAhB
我環顧著洞窟,想找到有什麼幫助我渡過寬廣的湖面的載具,不過好像沒有類似的東西。直接游過去嗎,這樣會不會有點不得體?黯牙會在乎這種事情嗎?369Please respect copyright.PENANA25UvaWPw41
369Please respect copyright.PENANAstPHo3vP51
我抓了抓頭,不太確定該怎麼做。369Please respect copyright.PENANAZGJjsOYPLb
369Please respect copyright.PENANAAj4L9SWvHd
我聽見黯牙吸氣的細微聲響,推測這應該是他準備再次唱出旋律的準備動作。369Please respect copyright.PENANAUYbWrgWh45
369Please respect copyright.PENANAQSJ2Dk28su
讓長老催促這麼多次,可就不禮貌了。369Please respect copyright.PENANA9XjpgnXrsA
369Please respect copyright.PENANA6T5hXygIBn
我屏除所有沒幫助的雜念,向前跨出一步,踏上湖面。369Please respect copyright.PENANA58l5q32wfs
369Please respect copyright.PENANAyyEY8Zo51I
在我意料之外的,某個硬物撐住了我的鞋底。湖面之下,有什麼透明的東西,提供像是踏墊的功能通往中央平台。369Please respect copyright.PENANAIV2lo7oXWj
369Please respect copyright.PENANAY40dxspUBS
黯牙發出某種轟鳴,讓空間震動,我想那應該是古龍笑出來的聲音。此時我在水晶閃爍的紅光中,看清楚了腳下晶柱的樣子。369Please respect copyright.PENANAxDr1WhaIv8
369Please respect copyright.PENANAYvX29jenrT
理解了黯牙從一開始便不斷給我提示,但我卻決定直接跳進湖裡游上平台,這種尷尬情緒讓我不由自主地抓了抓後腦。369Please respect copyright.PENANAg8tcZPXpEk
369Please respect copyright.PENANAUHo7WGQVa1
「無所畏懼,挑戰者不知踟躕。」黯牙在我抵達他身前時以愉悅旋律唱道,周遭的晶體開始發出穩定的白光。「勇往直前,無翼龍不曾墜落。」長老放低巨大的龍首,黃色的眼睛和我平視。「但三名的持有者應該要知道,謹慎是通向睿智的踏腳石。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAmDEPdHR2UE
369Please respect copyright.PENANAp8X5144pmX
我低下頭,表達謙遜的接收教誨。不過我注意到這句話中的另一個意義。369Please respect copyright.PENANAXKVvPlZTTB
369Please respect copyright.PENANAYSpmNbOXX2
我走回湖邊,將手伸進水中,將先前當作立足點的其中一塊透明晶體撈起來。和我的手掌差不多大,是長方體。在黯牙微笑的默許下,我將這別具深意的禮物收好。369Please respect copyright.PENANAmSYLaRa23a
369Please respect copyright.PENANAvyTOeH5wmL
「尊者自長眠中甦醒,給予我無價智慧。無翼該如何回報此等饋贈?」我向黯牙深深鞠躬,起身後以渴求旋律唱道。369Please respect copyright.PENANAs5cB9vJJv6
369Please respect copyright.PENANAtPKX2sDe7n
「飛龍無翼,請聽我吟唱,垂垂老者的驕傲、盼望,和懊悔。」黯牙將頭仰起長嚎,完全展開的巨大羽翼上,鱗片和羽毛反射著四周水晶隨著共鳴閃耀的各種色彩。369Please respect copyright.PENANA30etq3VD0r
369Please respect copyright.PENANAp09HZWyJq8
「最終審判者已經甦醒,其心志綻放的璀璨光輝,照亮虛無一物的寰宇。369Please respect copyright.PENANAT0S2cpehLy
369Please respect copyright.PENANAq8a0kHC20c
黯淡的藍點使他圓滿,消逝的湛藍將他破碎。369Please respect copyright.PENANAXUzB21V5Ue
369Please respect copyright.PENANABbmQ3aBzEJ
鮮紅的雙眼看盡一切,空洞的心靈容納所有。369Please respect copyright.PENANAOWbLics8JA
369Please respect copyright.PENANAGYcNsijShJ
回顧過往既定的錯誤,看見未來可能的願景。369Please respect copyright.PENANAQya0bRwyrc
369Please respect copyright.PENANANLEDk7EBIV
完成爾等必然的旅途,裁決汝等生靈的命運。369Please respect copyright.PENANAqeK4L1leAP
369Please respect copyright.PENANAYIPA8YIGym
審判者為何人,為何人要被審判?369Please respect copyright.PENANAV9C1IzssM9
369Please respect copyright.PENANALy0wSJQ1dA
此等大哉問,起源於千年以前,妄自試圖型塑未來的七人:369Please respect copyright.PENANACkosi0yUEi
369Please respect copyright.PENANAwyPiWxdV0K
最富裕者,控制了天空、陸地,和海洋,宣稱所有道路皆為他所開。369Please respect copyright.PENANA1g4X1jutUv
369Please respect copyright.PENANAg1MjVcvYYg
最機敏者,掌握了文字、語言,和訊息,操縱所有事實皆為他所用。369Please respect copyright.PENANAC1Vmo3EEpm
369Please respect copyright.PENANAwf2Bh73T5z
最務實者,占有了田野、山巔,和居所,迫使所有形骸皆為他所役。369Please respect copyright.PENANALGk8dqMKIZ
369Please respect copyright.PENANAz0HZvB92uU
最聰慧者,杜撰了知識、資訊,和資料,引導所有心智皆為他所使。369Please respect copyright.PENANAPqGeq9vXsZ
369Please respect copyright.PENANAW5TR9Muafg
最玲瓏者,施展了奇蹟、義舉,和聖戰,牧養所有屬靈皆為他所率。369Please respect copyright.PENANANhw4PcH5ox
369Please respect copyright.PENANAepGeprL8Kt
最遠慮者,創造了毒藥、解藥,和食物,壟斷所有收穫皆為他所享。369Please respect copyright.PENANAYSH326ETPJ
369Please respect copyright.PENANAjtrAZ5XwdJ
最愚蠢者,抬頭仰望星空,他只想要找到更寬廣的世界,足以容下所有人自由翱翔。369Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1fLlboOZo
369Please respect copyright.PENANAGli03mUYwY
七人皆相識,彼此結盟,於暗處控制世界的走向。369Please respect copyright.PENANA6I43Wfn0Ow
369Please respect copyright.PENANA82kG1JBSDg
以暗語作為鑰匙,在陰影中上演最精細的傀儡戲碼。369Please respect copyright.PENANAFfcB44m5sD
369Please respect copyright.PENANAEkO9UtfWVZ
七人皆有罪,不分輕重,在最終結算到來時償付。369Please respect copyright.PENANA4UVNZ0Ab5o
369Please respect copyright.PENANAbYeDv7p32r
以記憶作為基石,在審判中呈上最真誠的心思理念。369Please respect copyright.PENANAXPmdCfHlnw
369Please respect copyright.PENANAuQn3Pt5GBE
潮汐起落、帝國興衰、文明消長,七名操偶師,忽略了自身綁著的絲線。369Please respect copyright.PENANAcjkTOYWaah
369Please respect copyright.PENANAVsNd9c2D14
當瞭解自身處在更加宏大的布局中,其中六人變本加厲,擅自揣測侷限的猜想,意圖拼湊出滿足自身定義的結局。369Please respect copyright.PENANAdEx87hUwbC
369Please respect copyright.PENANAKKZqxgydQQ
最愚蠢者發誓要記取教訓,脫離六人,獨自守護秘密跨越無數世紀。但無奈漫長歲月,被遺忘的比被記住的多,最愚蠢者再次辜負了自己。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAUcEOZBow7b
369Please respect copyright.PENANAkNuXh3V2tH
黯牙的身體垮了下來,神情看起來非常疲憊,洞窟中的晶體發出的光也逐漸黯淡。369Please respect copyright.PENANA24eP1FFpbY
369Please respect copyright.PENANAPuDwJejBBc
「在所有無用的知識、懊悔的記憶中,最愚蠢者只能依稀記得,第一幕將會在月球上演。」黯牙將龍首放到我面前,低聲繼續唱道。369Please respect copyright.PENANAqTGn5lHYDi
369Please respect copyright.PENANAThvdfbjgcT
「找到審判者,贈與我殘破的記憶,指出通往和解的道路,避免我們的毀滅;369Please respect copyright.PENANA8VdOX6Eypr
369Please respect copyright.PENANAFYHDR4zEVS
協助審判者,奉上我混濁的雙眸,洞悉眾獸真實的樣貌,看穿表象的虛幻;369Please respect copyright.PENANATWKwe02dog
369Please respect copyright.PENANAsfID51rJOu
轉告審判者,傾聽我最後的吟唱,記住最愚蠢者的失敗,理解暗語的真意。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAJTEWM8qYdM
369Please respect copyright.PENANALYq0a3Gvv6
黯牙歪過了頭,向我展示了他那顆黑曜石般的突出獠牙。「適格者無翼,你是否願意承受此禮物,以及相對應的重擔?」369Please respect copyright.PENANAdnMkvvpHHp
369Please respect copyright.PENANAb6do3lpOjP
仍然沉醉在那宏大到無法想像的歌聲中,我有點頭重腳輕的單膝跪下,低垂視線。「生而為此。」我能從歌聲中傳遞過來的影像看到更多東西,但太多、又太混亂了,我可能需要很多時間梳理。但是我能理解,這件事情有多重要,還有,我是適格者的原因。369Please respect copyright.PENANAOGTW6EbQzm
369Please respect copyright.PENANAzkAANXGro4
黯牙好像鬆了一口氣一樣,緩緩的眨了下眼睛,將黑曜石般的突出獠牙刺入我的肩膀。369Please respect copyright.PENANAXk4RWgldOd
369Please respect copyright.PENANAdEBuMXshbK
剛開始,除了刺痛感之外沒有別的感覺。接著,像是流動的火焰在我的血管中亂竄一樣。所有臟器、肌肉、骨骼和神經,都在瘋狂的尖叫。我就像是被完全拆解開來,撒入太空中,然後,再一個分子一個分子的重新組裝。369Please respect copyright.PENANAlyJvjVw1Xy
369Please respect copyright.PENANALPAh9s4jZy
重新意識到自己在呼吸時,已經不知道過去了多久。我搖搖晃晃的站了起來,看著將自己縮成一團的黯牙。長老似乎再次進入了長眠,他將尾巴上的羽毛蓋住頭部,身體以非常緩慢的固定節奏起伏著。369Please respect copyright.PENANAOIN1wqlycb
369Please respect copyright.PENANAUG7wADKezX
但是我能感覺到,好像……有什麼東西。369Please respect copyright.PENANAhV3RxdoHu7
369Please respect copyright.PENANAJE0iLLsjoM
「Dif-tor heh smusma。」369Please respect copyright.PENANAj23zXjDa1A
369Please respect copyright.PENANAx1sGSgxEeS
突如其來在腦海中響起的語句讓我差點跳了起來,我能夠認出這是黯牙的聲音,和歌聲的音色差不多。我又看了一眼顯然已經進入沉睡的古龍,沒有甦醒的跡象。369Please respect copyright.PENANA4j4woiGZLf
369Please respect copyright.PENANAMNcnONqTKm
「這是我的暗語,記好,最後會派上用場的。」黯牙的聲音再次傳來。369Please respect copyright.PENANAUhmZe7E7XF
369Please respect copyright.PENANAmsIgQq820L
「謹遵指令,睿智.開拓者.黯牙。」我試著模仿,將思緒傳遞出去,得到的回應是一陣友善的笑聲,和表示他需要休息的疲憊感。369Please respect copyright.PENANAi4ellPpHNS
369Please respect copyright.PENANAonSqPFdyvN
原路折返,我踩著石階,思索著,同時感覺到,有什麼東西……不,是很多東西,在我的……我的……感覺範圍之內。我不知道該怎麼描述,有點像是眼角餘光中有許多小點,想要單獨集中在其中一個上頭就會失焦,但能很清楚的知道,他們在那裡。369Please respect copyright.PENANAfjY8tWlMSh
369Please respect copyright.PENANAXbyLcCdMQt
我無法理解其中原理,但我能感覺到,上方隔離艙外多了一組人。我想,他們會和我解釋情況。369Please respect copyright.PENANAaG1DGmwjF0
369Please respect copyright.PENANAjBc76KDikj
在那扇通往隔離艙的門緩緩開啟時,我握了握收在胸前口袋的透明晶體,知道世界在這之後,將再也不同。