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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmoLrDAFLY
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIzxCg5mXX
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjKTzE3wgx
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgw6vfo8kk
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCM2wdVSEU
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBAg3Cz41C
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP8ojIi1Oq
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MkFDAcNkY
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXkPHjgVNV
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GieiMqemb
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9QGkC21pJ
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFPplqIpZS
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiM3h93Zpa
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaoX9LLI3i
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem0N0tSHl6
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eqTYPpr7A
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」。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bxSbMMNsl
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdSRYHU4Om
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！」129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQoys9fMDB
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLrBi1H6uz
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FObHKxACe
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4Zlj4Pdiy
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUc4xVDAxN
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKUubdJNZT
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF43mdIHkuB
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE1250FX84
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmJjxS6h0l
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNKCXpDM11
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VzjxGQg0b
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0sI4wBTOq
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnPxPCBDK4
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WuDbrGkx5
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」。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDI9N20af9
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRqIojnA3W
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7RcLzePBS
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBWPBiM3yp
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQg2wHC2FK
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDbezhHOMG
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rtg3Kg4nm
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwquIBwqCSf
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q0CuqhG7o
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjpdggrYfP
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A2iTRZ72o
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDUbrZ4QYL
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJB3R5FzSs
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKWz47OS3F
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDihwJXIXLZ
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceRND2l3hc
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLFhBQYwS9
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIXyqt0TSl
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZkwaNMYJh
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ue2ucMbrI
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47ovHTqBnZ
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXWSH0fo3d
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfamG7hqa1
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvhkEyGDqK
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8cQSbkJhK
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXZgVVuGxk
───129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mmUiLPUYf
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmozMRd1T
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKvqJQSNBf
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3vD3ED0Ny
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmGmMWTjhS
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnrjO0VWx7
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tMHWgRNfW
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv4MS323ai
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——129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfrjZjOasy
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWn8htB8uz
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL7ZlK8npO
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxxW9qPxkx
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cNKS6ShC8
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcnoSjzB9r
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqRsbOCU4r
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2WbkFQ4T6
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXcEl1KYpl
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCFKR9yBcY
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！129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRBOdL5oDb
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI4086cnkh
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDwVOt16yv
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwea1ZWr1JZ
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE95sUguO3u
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87uPei8PEh
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEgYx0HYzR
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bnhfxURWt
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVWni3TcGQ
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvPt0E9M1p
塔庫魯心中一凜。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡownmixtsdN
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8OLeRgEwb
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uH0WIxGAy
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXnfKLxw4G
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuQN1d3Omg
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwmUGBxvWb
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！129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9oagPtIwf
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Z1oXGLX2
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvfUum60YU
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ0kvxt46a
此地已不宜久留！129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2hfWbY6FI
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpny9LuV6VN
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXrXjlXQ3K
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G5P3szcRY
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu2ABxuzWb
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMV2u3SHsb
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkdu61ElLY
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegpcBBjAIZ
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrHQ6aRX50
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyVirkqJaq
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FfieCfaSo
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyTAd7XL0T
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DzBuE9fxf
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyXxy6MQ2J
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVOzZ9Sukg
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVdCAJrzZ6
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf5taikntQ
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd5QbAMP9M
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6NIus9330
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF41qCrexfO
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMyDMYFXUo
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR7NwRHItG
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkzRckE2EO
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIiTVHDUeG
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DR6bmvMJD
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI22yaifHn
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupoPpvf93d
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXogUP3ckrH
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Gi1pureG
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMslpAI5THj
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVYyHL9TBb
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jteIIkjWE
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1NDSaUNgq
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSRXHYg876
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcclMafWWpT
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUhJSTALET
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENVnYDekb3
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfFPGATj82
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHzW20MreH
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJI1D7X8rD
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FyCgrAsc7
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59iDdcCVWZ
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN7ORqG8gC
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3dPOQN14D
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSE1NMp02Y
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsIUOgsyC4
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。129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq91gbQiVx
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoYZB6pp63
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。
