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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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn2p8gYvJM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaOV7rfxq6
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpdaFWiqFj
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs09mDjGqx4
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WgA1cCMHR
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfDkIlLpC2
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqbss1m9nU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD26cA1FA9
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zlHkfgYpV
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6nW7YYA64
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM68kZCxcDU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G1beU3KFF
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJetdXmven5
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3NjIukGtF
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOm2ytX4vB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjcNn3PBr3
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」。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog2nvcLVmz
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n6gUXXg8T
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！」82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsGF1Wpxw6
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYCeEmmcPP
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPetrZC0ni
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjk6hWg4sh
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbhHDjO3f0
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpgNKzZkbE
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGtO1CClzk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI0y7mEviS
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKrhHqIUV4
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZoiMumMtt
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aU97fqENa
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JZ72wXcfd
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4EHbwGPx7
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7JDGOGw0P
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」。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpXWlVfxlg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs89dibjIus
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAHyfFhg82
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE1BkxegHC
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9OGTb0mOM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Tq82R5pc
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVJqRm4h8F
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4mrVQSyht
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt16p3FlJHG
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwSMztqVJH
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7DgGpqwDh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEsGWNL7x8
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGwYu7VPqD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtXEcd4sTh
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nyWXxPKFD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8Sxwebfxv
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN6HHq2Scx
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAzXtAmMUz
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYCUnQHjS7
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBSjjhDm0N
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz9WDr4C8M
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuMddnHzWQ
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Xfp6E0BA
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRksRiI7I4
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpqApqjlPB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlJ8cjrLWu
───82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9jKJxsdD8
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPZNRnW9GB
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2nE16VrKL
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni6sIz7X7z
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJldwhoXKi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIqX5NYc0P
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuQTY9UWtP
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZUAxPS028
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——82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNQR4bUpR2
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhimtUDrMU3
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbWCXVICsg
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwbyZx7tQy
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwkJfYSjiF
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaktyYSS6I0
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBRj1xGxOi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU4zHZugCr
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76vixHPbdi
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjIMv2kyIb
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！82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnn5swp1Fa
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWydiKJ94nF
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1AfAsPzvL
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VKzZcSjei
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV4cbtCd8o
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs2lCQEtOO
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzWVGzQdXB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9DykTqVEi
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I6JquxMbn
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiF8iw4Gyn
塔庫魯心中一凜。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdu6iEGNDH
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH5Q7FdWGA
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62XESp7K5s
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAsrLJgMnk
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEKc2HdG0k
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtE1llCOeK
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！82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe7WAnbMWy
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx1H16yqL2
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pihHWFsFB
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRNHGDqyuT
此地已不宜久留！82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ghGvOUnm2
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGr2BXsjvN
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnld5FqpMv
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNarfuJa9KR
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24eYGUV3Jf
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jb7fIvCHz
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTjD5IPxMN
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbK7EbaN1X
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk9Yn5v6nh
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjWmW4VZrm
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zv5EOjjFU
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJAIgso8uY
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq6HUvBia0
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffeu2gNT8Z
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHRpoeKeST
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtKD0lP9n9
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLrt4EJEfE
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbodYXJXIO6
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8LL4ggdyM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky3NwZ2pWf
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD5hpX8ers
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGsuTc39Yj
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZwdy9tF33
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XAZgaN7lR
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQO5fjxCXP
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTgkj7TYDV
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsrBczKbEo
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwReAOnqA0A
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9i0ls1IKu
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBHbfuYyJU
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxo6taGeXz
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZFr677Ygo
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nNMprV1AG
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iwVizELYI
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenowefsF9q
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7srg4liyLu
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzhRXPbylI
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB1lSea4VM
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNDGEzYiZa
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNob6cDSfsx
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfBVamejuj
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ie0SpqX5A
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRlEEKB4GN
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKZa9OPVRB
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXlFQz0ApL
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrdiTHe0ss
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。82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoLSmpGNKD
82Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkdfBBYpM0
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。
