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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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE2Cimu3EG
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3zxzlE2nk
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwdw99MpBl
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRJpOhhRvY
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZgy0y5Gqc
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDPfUIVYAM
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFmJ1dDWaE
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynbvDcQKXY
「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。」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYNgbjnKIK
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yjjLXWCeA
塔庫魯聽得心頭一震，猛點頭暗記。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevhv9n72O7
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3V7ocJOWt
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvyK6rvSfN
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLYtOOgVpr
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85MQsR5KCb
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30DMkaPsgK
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？」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Damesk3f
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeKg7KG2NZ
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。」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydNWG6tu8q
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCONbSDDRi
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？」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NUlBQR1YA
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RSeHCGXkC
「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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwssZJoYkVx
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGwMfKxyAZ
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkChliRFWYu
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1TgUkpyLf
艾利歐特與蓋達領頭，率先踏上通往火炎山的小徑。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6B5Fwm6Hh
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Aysu2wuD
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAoY1cN7qj
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hbvqh6juV
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ2aC1Bl6U
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWjTzMHBxI
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYz8IvEVX9I
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5AhPtW3Ty
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjG6B5eD2f
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZnYem8G01
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP8NqwELIB
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hb5QvO2QB
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ocqkh9ETl
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAP1w3vdgJ
說罷，匆匆前去與夸斯特討論。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmyKjrBIBl
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC0xC8wwsE
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？」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa6297Yxs6
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0qOBPQW4Z
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSythpgRmJG
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TXY1tNvDe
他果斷點頭：「可以！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduhkxILPoc
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83z9IyqA03
夸斯特取出一條奇異的青綠繩索，遞給他。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHA2XksCBT
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzmde7Q4Hl
「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。」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHM9aH4qrI
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRRL1BhHi5
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1VHy1c3Rh
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR1HWlgaBS
隨即，他帶頭攀登。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbHiHmh2hZ
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K1rGPelf2
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXuTDd5FmL
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLl3JOYM42
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rOsmtznFH
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTNyUVlQ3r
四十餘名靈犬獸人聚集山腳，竊竊私語。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59ogiM9oWR
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XeBakepHy
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN93xUkLCcb
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZZxYA54aZ
「要不要派人繞道狙擊？」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KcHEh0XDC
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6Pn9x6VVr
「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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyVUFzBKNm
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBFNqeKSgt
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wu2UrJrVI
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPKfM1XdxG
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOV36OP3N6
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YI6pIv9E7
這正是夸斯特與泰倫斯敢冒險選這條山壁的原因。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkG3kZZzMH
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz1aFfc9DP
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTba6dvpVM5
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsFqeXcZIa
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOOMi6vrLP
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzBHk8gx9E
右側平台岩石裸露，只有零星草叢；左側則長滿高大雜草。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hmc9N3mHk
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2GEhNrRdk
夸斯特指示眾人休息調整。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡferfn0QLeT
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ217PFg5EXf
此時，夸斯特、泰倫斯與公主圍在一起討論。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1GasD847e
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU4C4bP5SX
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVTqQ7bBEe
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPGcXBmHXq
泰倫斯說：「沒聽過什麼號角獸人。既然吃素，應該不兇吧？」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELzJF24N8m
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji59SqBPqZ
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5XULB0oPj
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz11xG1kypR
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwPZw2qMoZ
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEgcxiX8dv
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYag484PfO
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL4K5KJ1C5
夸斯特凝神端詳，公主也湊近查看。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCVZIygC4w
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuapuhlaK13
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBehtncSZo
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVe8bYVxQ3
看來這傢伙是個相當渴望愛情的大男人。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDUHnIYmdw
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0vAW2RkjN
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhL38iiekO
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhhhUxR6jB
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQHBu2poKa
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlENmj80IiT
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。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG3Vj1ZztS
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqwh2EgpOo
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！」96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zYfdOW0KR
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR7VgLeMd5
眾人依舊腰繫青環索，連成一線，加快速度。96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuajNFV35Yj
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH215c1TG0h
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。
