x
將主角等一行人困在山壁上小平臺上的號角獸人，逼得主角等一群人只好鑽進平臺上的一個小地洞去。
塔庫魯才剛鑽進左側那邊滿是高約兩公尺的雜草平臺時，就看見草叢中兩對彎曲如號角般的巨角晃動。他不假思索地猛然揮斧，鐵斧挾帶著呼嘯勁風，兩名尚未察覺異狀的號角獸人便已應聲倒斃於草間。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5xcP48QvR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3RRO45p76
穿過草叢，塔庫魯抵達另一側的平台邊緣，正遇見一名手持鐵叉的號角獸人從山壁躍來，鐵叉直刺他的胸膛。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9hKImMKmn
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU4XrOFC87
幸而塔庫魯反應神速，長柄鐵斧斜劈，架開攻勢，隨即猛力一腳將對方踹下山崖。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9AkKlzxFP
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtE7ai8lcL
一聲淒厲的「啊——」在山谷間回蕩，塔庫魯已瞥見山壁上還有五、六個號角獸人，正攀爬而來。但此刻，所有獸人都暫時停頓，轉而目送那名摔落同伴的身影，神情驚駭。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNogRFO6FmU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7518nGQUB
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgFGzZ6oBv
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl0BnqCPdB
這時，女兵露西與派緹迅速從草叢中竄出，搭弓連發，箭如驟雨，數名攀爬中的獸人紛紛中箭墜落，重重摔下山谷。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOw20nty6f
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOPIEnG8tT
夸斯特快步趕來，看了看情勢，低聲道：「我們得躲進草叢中固守。在這裸露的山壁上，無法與他們周旋！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01tCGA6Iu3
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGrcsTpkY1
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1md4GWOmF
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q1zctKNTI
剛才連番箭雨讓敵方士氣受挫，其餘號角獸人退到約五十公尺外的山壁凹陷處，隱身岩石之後，與他們隔空對峙。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDqSbcFYhl
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7gjZ6ON95
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtb3TFyPaw
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK5TBlrp46
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZpx91XWT0
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpposUvukt
平台的正上方是近乎光滑的垂直山壁，即便號角獸人擅長攀爬，也無法從此處來發起垂降攻擊；若當真要想強行攀越，只怕是通通要墜落到下方成為一灘肉泥。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Oj2TNUZz
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oLKZtqiRa
塔庫魯等人分守四方，將公主護於內側山壁邊。其間，敵人曾兩度試圖自高處擲石砸殺塔庫魯——19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmd7sKJy1J
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshtag3dWq7
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlzxm43LsW
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnsV55sKWj
第二次，體積較小的石塊則被他當場一斧劈碎，碎石如雨，轟然滑落谷底，聲勢浩大。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPmXifCzFx
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdUFCSt0B3
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGzk8BZilL
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdLvqsyjH6
僵持過了近一個時辰。幸好，這群號角獸人腦筋死板，未曾想到以火攻逼迫。否則，躲藏在草叢中的眾人，恐怕早已葬身火海。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtCrRUOzep
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKX0uSnMd4
蓋達忍不住低聲嘀咕了一句，公主聽後笑著解釋道：「獸人對火懷有極深的敬畏之心。他們信奉火焰是毀滅與重生的化身，不敢輕啟山林之火，以免焚毀世代棲身之地。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nlQsOPwhV
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWnd6m8OFb
艾利歐特守在小徑旁，聽了會心一笑：「這習慣，真是救了我們一命。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW8MVRLFZp
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmXFsCmP1p
公主接著說：「這片大地有八座火炎山，年年輪流噴發。獸人們與火山為鄰，自小便懂得對火心存敬畏。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd9S2UVE7i
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ekyS7EIKL
蓋達皺眉問道：「為什麼八座火山都叫火炎山？不個別為其取名？這樣難道不會搞混嗎？」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3BVIZ9RxU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziuIuHRcXP
公主淺笑回答：「那是獸人們自己命名的。為了區別，我們通常會在前面加上方位，例如這座便是『西南火炎山』。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwPyaDI4Kv
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVVEbdwmxZ
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhWKK02rL0
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMNQQH2CGP
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRgwVNpn8F
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eZjt1Yqt3
就在此時，派緹突然警覺地盯著一旁的枯草堆，低聲道：「這堆草，有異樣！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEbyfaC4PR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgE5eE8wqb
夸斯特立刻指示露西護送公主後退。派緹見狀，舉劍挑開枯草，只見下方赫然露出幾根木棍搭起的坑道入口。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZeuzh2AqZ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGp7XkoFDz
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqwrOstG8W
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hdgW5R59b
夸斯特走近觀察，沉思片刻後道：「應該很久沒有人走動了。公主，我有個大膽的主意……」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbBXlHLx8d
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB82P8ULh2Y
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDx4qcuKDV
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KMteJcbUo
夸斯特便下令道：「蓋達打頭陣，艾利歐特緊隨。塔庫魯，你最後進入，記得設法把通道入口掩埋！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15xNHimguW
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY5oTEvJAl
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoqnj8RmiI
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujSYRrQ6xH
眾人小心準備下洞時，塔庫魯已開始動手——他飛快地從草叢中抓取乾草，搓揉成一條條細繩。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1p7fr6akF
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegB8m2qFiS
當大半人員已潛入地道後，他退到洞口邊，熟練地將木棍縱橫編織成一個簡易骨架，用草繩緊緊綁緊，隨後再將乾草小心覆蓋於其上。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96oCRke1R2
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KJLsL6NGU
在壓好最後一把乾草後，他穩穩地將偽裝物架回洞口上方，草繩一拉，整捆乾草順勢立起，然後短刀一割，草捆散開覆蓋住整個洞口。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin9DV2craA
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBh0Nqvv5Y
從外頭望去，應當是要不露絲毫破綻。即使敵人靠近，也難以察覺地底藏著生路。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM2oHcK72D
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaNSiGndXg
確認無光線滲漏後，塔庫魯這才轉身鑽入坑道，輕巧關閉了地面世界的大門。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKuGFB5HP3
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs6FxVLiJi
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SbjhnPH03
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuOQQU9Mbe
地道內一片昏暗，僅有公主法杖頂端的淡藍光芒，幽微閃爍，引導著眾人前行。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQF76W5prD
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXznxBNyi1
這條地道不算狹窄，普通人通過綽綽有餘，但對塔庫魯那寬厚如岩熊般的身軀而言，每一步都得小心翼翼，時不時磕碰岩壁。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Eqzo8pgu9
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab6kwlst4a
坑道時而下沉，時而上升，蜿蜒曲折，如同某種蠕動的地底巨獸。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGY2O0N6d6
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynWjehLq7k
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDFzvcXIgt
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Hr2Y2WYPd
蓋達打頭陣，小心翼翼地探頭從門縫中張望，確定無人後，夸斯特下令推門而入。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEXrlJTUY1
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq975mh7FR
門後，是一間早已被歲月侵蝕的岩室。木桌、木椅、木床，全都朽壞傾斜，空氣中瀰漫著陳舊與沉寂的味道。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrTnhhuNDa
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjFFFMHYn0
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Y1OGcqdf
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHfYvU864s
眾人索性在這間岩室短暫休息。塔庫魯巨大的身軀堵在進來的門口，將通道緊緊封死，猶如一面堅不可摧的鐵牆。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLxip7sZ2v
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrCAYbk8zs
即便有敵人追蹤至此，遠遠望來，也只會以為這裡已無路可走。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ttrQtkahn
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXM1ayzmQL
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlreyer3qex
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFLpB68c7V
公主低聲為眾人解說：「岩鼠獸人世代鑽營於地底，開鑿岩洞尋找『岩果』——這種稀有的果實能大幅強化獸人的體能。岩鼠獸人本身是純肉食者，需以岩果換取其他食物資源。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gc4fQDAIl
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwqfuMYfzg
她頓了頓，接著說道：「在這種狹窄的坑道中，他們近乎無敵。牙齒鋒利如鋼刃，啃咬堅石，築建整個地下世界。他們可以收縮身體穿過狹隘通道，也能鼓脹身體，封堵整個地道！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvRk50RdlB
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFFZRPrhlh
塔庫魯聽得暗自想像——一群像海豹般柔軟而致命的岩鼠獸人，盤踞在這片地底暗流之中。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhQsOkNen1
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xr11ikJOj
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFjXJaDvLP
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ThiAMOTHa
那聲音低微而遙遠，彷彿有人正用尖銳的圓鍬，不斷撥弄脆弱的岩石。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfchSL8guR
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9I1IlZIDG
夸斯特神情凝重地貼耳傾聽，招呼泰倫斯與艾利歐特一同判斷，但無論怎麼辨別，都無法確定聲音從哪條通道傳來。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzVA1GtJkD
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsp7pS1gQb
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYgIMJID1Y
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MGiN0J2OA
夸斯特點了點頭，斷然下令：「既如此，從左邊地道前進。那方向應該更靠近山壁外側！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPXeq1x0zQ
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLxbdGkV9v
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYEIkC3T0j
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnQhUb9hKT
艾利歐特微笑點頭，臨出發前還與派緹對望一眼，後者回以甜甜的微笑——19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN5z0EEy7D
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbZIuMWl4s
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN1Nu3hOyd
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcZdXU9kQ2
副隊長泰倫斯不經意地看了看剩下的露西——這個外表甜美、個性卻剛烈的女兵。他苦笑搖頭，自知已有家室，自然不敢妄動。19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65c2KV5Jqk
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuErIEddWQ
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3KyeVU1f4
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNLimcbRgU
無論怎麼想，都很難想像這兩個肌肉怪物能與露西這樣的金髮女戰士牽起紅線。
