
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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAPA4Hx9FR80
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAV7um2EHjM5
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAvvAquI7VmE
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAXaVm2P370y
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「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。」94Please respect copyright.PENANAs1gEeCINV9
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塔庫魯聽得心頭一震,猛點頭暗記。94Please respect copyright.PENANA3sfIRe0SuU
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAFO5BmG0Jmu
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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?」94Please respect copyright.PENANApEVPxrHyUF
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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。」94Please respect copyright.PENANAIwVJSlbgbu
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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?」94Please respect copyright.PENANARhB5DGn3HH
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「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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAT92AxNYdfW
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANADnzSFyVSV5
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艾利歐特與蓋達領頭,率先踏上通往火炎山的小徑。94Please respect copyright.PENANAXmPji4lYxG
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAMlUrFG3LBv
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAtl3Llm9Kkp
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANADXdcNJoAhG
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANA2VkFQgqCeV
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAQEhlNeZgZH
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說罷,匆匆前去與夸斯特討論。94Please respect copyright.PENANArjmnYfA0Sf
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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?」94Please respect copyright.PENANAs9Znqv4PMG
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANARaGEo8vJaI
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他果斷點頭:「可以!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAyvC5rNfQ2O
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夸斯特取出一條奇異的青綠繩索,遞給他。94Please respect copyright.PENANAsf3z1MXH4B
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「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。」94Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zqh6pGBZ5
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANARnXjc6hAwf
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隨即,他帶頭攀登。94Please respect copyright.PENANA33zFuBfGpv
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAKnVF0lAf7W
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAx0Qdw8CQUK
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四十餘名靈犬獸人聚集山腳,竊竊私語。94Please respect copyright.PENANAy7epugwuFB
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANADuixGoNgfL
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「要不要派人繞道狙擊?」94Please respect copyright.PENANAdidRZ5TiUj
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「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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANATW3nDHWLID
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAy2mbjKJMhh
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANA0sBajU7mGP
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這正是夸斯特與泰倫斯敢冒險選這條山壁的原因。94Please respect copyright.PENANAgKO8JugJ39
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAQmIzSls0Ni
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右側平台岩石裸露,只有零星草叢;左側則長滿高大雜草。94Please respect copyright.PENANARdgORfLsF3
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夸斯特指示眾人休息調整。94Please respect copyright.PENANAFvCO2FnFe1
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此時,夸斯特、泰倫斯與公主圍在一起討論。94Please respect copyright.PENANA3u7kIecmvY
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAwmS5ZeZiBq
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泰倫斯說:「沒聽過什麼號角獸人。既然吃素,應該不兇吧?」94Please respect copyright.PENANAfhvy0VqEWe
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAhT7u1e4EiY
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAejcEFyWXDf
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANA5QUERMz0dU
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夸斯特凝神端詳,公主也湊近查看。94Please respect copyright.PENANAbxywRk03fB
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANApc82ECr1Eg
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看來這傢伙是個相當渴望愛情的大男人。94Please respect copyright.PENANAIptEkwQ3HO
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANAoyIh3exkEh
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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。94Please respect copyright.PENANAypz3KSZfVC
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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!」94Please respect copyright.PENANA6UgBBtOKeo
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眾人依舊腰繫青環索,連成一線,加快速度。94Please respect copyright.PENANAObVnV28QvS
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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。