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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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ppk3V20tl
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFTmWhxRQS
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGn8Rto5Hq
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowCmoIT4lK
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEcjADuIEE
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9fPrduy1N
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0zl7HXknv
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdDk3K9mGf
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF1OfTFJrY
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7saFBIl4O
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKch2MjSfG
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tZ9DSJ3Vb
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！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwgdfNQdt5
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QwKq9r9DT
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJb9Knvsz3
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOJWresabc
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFTGVRQxWb
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPMySUNtL5
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXANVRsdbgZ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonqxcbFbCt
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWNmWQZ0Ny
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh2SSAT8Tl
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy0BgZlplC
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHR8UDYYOC
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——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN92CTNqvFo
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXzoxN1e4A
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjtB2Hsa8X
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaJs8eEKfO
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vxvn0uZmj
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKe6yokaVF
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaqlpANQpe
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P6AdU4ABs
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6vGYd7s55
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhLP2L1g9C
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。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWohR5bHTx
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso6DeRUoUC
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。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLlD1WQMUr
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgU0UepmbI
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。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzDmiBRYvw
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadqnd1fByD
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？」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzV0YQlipo
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8k7NLE30Iq
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』。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbvNNQYSrY
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx7cXIaEdh
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufQ3KFHNyM
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5sKres1VV
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA9mmbgill
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDyYJcv32Y
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！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlF7LgxFVZ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnS8DcsWpd
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NwCPUzPEi
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkubFTF7Jey
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRLFJCQIuf
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE5k9aNJEd
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……」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S4KWZi5ti
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbYOKGKliG
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKCpg0tUjL
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGTBcgaFsd
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！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xs06s3WkZ
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89cyhhU059
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAWTufdyni
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91fr1fxFGW
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRMfgnj23W
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYqhqLAptn
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RCvAYzUnC
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHe2aJ4xDv
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGrExuLjn1
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9UweyDYhu
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilJBhyAEij
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZGzVmcvcV
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp4Jc9OrwK
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU2sw2aCej
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlFHIYe673
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCpL63PNYa
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoIF5F95cP
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xp6AkmVH5
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq0sxZM3hx
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0FSDxnntx
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd1CyCeO2F
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBTy3xK2tO
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8AOcdr2gF
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVkiK3d8Hk
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcuv6UK3CW
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAB81IoBwW
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZF5oK36yw
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eKtd2k1Fo
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR3Hy3OVnm
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKufcZfvcS
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcOGMiU05H
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSH3LBXp40
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudHpTWl05N
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v7XC0J0MM
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y1s82aaTx
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZaO9yL5Jt
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。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFkxeWRsjY
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0FK6kDTHC
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！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Z1FFitj7
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3wsXfaugt
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1adE9SvGM0
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX3TRkg5fe
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWigB3OFLX
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAW8aFg6bVu
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkCJQYklzU
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi94N2opj3b
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MsWbpcWaY
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoLR1yWfo8
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBHsTbSKSb
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkdO78V2ar
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！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU4PQ7hPMX
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9ktni5xCC
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoDMaYSlMP
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pxxu3Hr3P
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——49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntklBAReRd
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxBpro8X7G
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbTuUTqh37
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE3HONFsCp
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。49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF6uXlg8X1
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8ECjJbzQk
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS4zDeGX0m
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eKDi2RVvA
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。
