見到年輕、英俊的艾利歐特前來晉見，每一眸、每一瞥都具有誘惑力的城主夫人瑪麗瑟不斷的在考驗著艾利歐特
但令艾利歐特瞠目結舌的，不是這位城主年邁的威儀，而是他身旁的女子。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMvfYr8z6s
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwOxCUzS0g
她彷彿與周圍的沉重氣氛格格不入——一位年輕、美艷而雍容的女子，黑髮如絲，紅唇若火，身著綴有紫晶的長裙，站在古柏身邊，彷如盛開在寒冬裡的罌粟。她那雙墨綠色的眼眸，在艾利歐特進門的一瞬間，便牢牢鎖住了他，眸中閃爍著難以忽視的興趣與——慾望。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpseczaFLjc
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QNkr9cEaV
「這位是我的妻子，瑪麗瑟。」古柏平靜地介紹，語氣毫無波瀾，彷彿早已習慣外人錯愕的反應。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN4WPG04Ey
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrLhpop8Rz
「夫人。」艾利歐特微微低頭，掩去心中一瞬的動搖。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN15PiKSyp
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPDIrciB7z
「騎士先生不必拘謹，」瑪麗瑟微笑道，聲音如絲綢般柔滑，「我很少見到從戰場上帶來這樣氣質與傷痕並存的男士。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQESLqINC2N
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlP3ADzLQH
艾利歐特強迫自己將視線轉向城主，拱手致意：「古柏大人，我此來，是代表我們小隊的意志。我們肩負的，是一項非凡且危險的任務：將——天魔王的骨骸——投進火炎山的岩漿之中，以免其邪力再度復甦。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscf8xjjfwi
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJtqsbAfZY
古柏的眼神微微一震，那是老戰士對邪神之名自然升起的警覺。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBOzQSnGbD
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicgF5zGg0C
艾利歐特續道：「然而，若要穿越這片平原直抵火炎山，我們必須確保金蝗城不淪陷。否則，獸人軍團將如洪流傾瀉而出，無休止地追擊我們的行蹤。您若失守，我們便死無葬身之地。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqOsevjgnR
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zfVD3vIwy
古柏沉默了片刻，然後輕輕頷首。「嗯，已經很久沒有任務小隊來到我們金蝗城了，上一次有任務小隊出現時，我還是個年輕壯盛的勇士呢，呵呵。對於你們的作為，我的衛兵們我早已傳報過來，城牆上的防線如今多虧了你們的夥伴死守，甚至還有人在外阻擋獸人騎兵。不論你們來此為何，這份援助我銘記於心。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHqPBeMwfi
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG5kjpooCn
他抬起手，指節蒼白地扣緊權杖。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5LQuX1CKg
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nkbUp7bfe
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9OfEUd1BF
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdgKSRpaFU
「艾利歐特先生，只要我們能撐下這一波攻勢，我願代表金蝗城向你們承諾：補給、馬匹、嚮導與軍械——你們所需，我城皆可供應，直到你們踏上火炎山。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7Yh8HnMGX
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA9dno3k9Y
瑪麗瑟此刻緩步向前，手中舉著銀製酒壺，斟滿兩杯香氣撲鼻的莓酒，親手遞給艾利歐特一杯。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB07kx94SZ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztozpWYSGx
「這是我親釀的酒，用月影樹的果實泡製而成。」她的聲音低柔，近乎私語，「我知道你們身負重任，也知道……你們的路上，將充滿血與火。至少，在這難得的平和安穩之刻，請讓這一杯，代表金蝗城的一點溫柔。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZI7cAFohr
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDRYHn4Txq
艾利歐特接過酒杯，手指不經意地觸碰到了她細緻的指尖，一股若有似無的電流掠過。他沉默片刻，勉強露出一絲笑容，舉杯回敬。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweMQA7FseA
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5g8U8ZeyB
「願我們都能熬過這個該死的守城之日。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixbZtYyUAR
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgnddWgn8l
古柏沒有錯過這場短暫卻充滿火花的互動。他那蒼老的眼神閃過一絲難以言說的寒意——不知是對命運的不滿，對年華流逝的嫉妒，還是對眼前年輕戰士的本能戒心。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Oe3NwEnvS
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqtSq3KJqH
「那麼，艾利歐特先生，」城主緩緩起身，拄著權杖，目光如刀般俯視，「你可願與我並肩守城？若我們能活下來……你我之間，便可有更長遠的對話。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I86c91Wpx
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFid4vsFdR
「我會守到底，」艾利歐特挺直背脊，毫不猶豫，「直到你我都能安然踏出這座城牆，或——直到倒下為止。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJUEnUctj8
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7n3SUHyz1
而一旁的瑪麗瑟，則帶著無聲的笑意，站在艾利歐特背後，彷彿命運的女神正為他在骰子上輕輕吹氣。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXET535YVtq
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0CBzlbW0G
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNvOZMxcHa
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDEIGQ5Hgp
與城堡之內詭譎緩慢的權謀氣氛相比，金蝗城外的荒野，則是一幅燃燒著鋼鐵與鮮血的戰場畫卷。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJAhQ32S1E
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oweBxcofY
殘陽如血，映照在低矮丘陵與焦黑草地之間。空氣中彌漫著獸血與火藥的氣味，風聲裡夾雜著獸人的咆哮與鬣狗的狂吠。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm2OM2eRED
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPxILcC9Kb
公主伊莉莎與她的三位戰士——夸斯特、泰倫斯與露西，尚未有片刻喘息，便聽見山坡遠方，再度傳來震地的蹄聲與低鳴。那是蟎蠕獸人重整後的第二波攻勢，規模是先前的數倍。他們騎乘的巨型斑點鬣狗如鬼魅般疾馳而來，牙齒利如刀鋒，雙眼燃燒著瘋狂與飢渴。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj62xlt1jg
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4Wu8qNT7z
「來了……比先前更多。」夸斯特低聲說，握緊手中的破魔寶劍，那劍身泛著幽藍的聖光，宛如夜空中靜止的閃電。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYZHSjRizi
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8PVcNKEDx
站在岩石後方的露西，已無暇思考，她拉滿最後一根箭矢，鬆手——利箭如雨疾射，箭無虛發地刺穿了衝得最快的騎兵頭目。她雙目如炬，身形如風，再射、再斬，不到數息間，便將十餘名先鋒斃命於箭下。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT55LBdmiT5
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsxrG7Zls4
但她的箭囊終究空了。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcruliMqhWU
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN51ohkigW
「箭盡了。」她冷然一語，抽出腰間長劍，一個轉身便貼近伊莉莎公主身側，如忠犬般守衛。「接下來只能靠劍。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSEOdJfWXc
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PtrXC5xYU
泰倫斯與夸斯特已無需言語，他們本就出生入死慣了。泰倫斯拔出那柄如雪色巨骨鑄成的龍骨聖刀，刀身在暮光下泛著蒼白的魔光，一如死神的鐮刀。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8jG1Z3T7L
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rHPY2oZua
下一刻，兩人如暴風般衝入獸人騎兵的洪流之中。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXO0UWhGV6
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwWoOjKVkw
夸斯特劍鋒如電，每一擊皆斬斷戰斧與鎧甲，聖光劍氣破除獸人身上那些古老詛咒的魔甲；泰倫斯則像一道血與骨交織的旋風，龍骨聖刀每一次橫掃，都帶走三五騎兵的生命。那把來自神龍遺骸的利器，連鬣狗的厚甲也一斬即斷，刀光之處無不血肉橫飛。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLr5TPrWHU
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey61xM56ms
露西雖轉守為攻，長劍雖不比她的神箭殺伐精準，但身形靈動，她遊走於敵群之間，以巧妙步伐與快劍護住公主周圍，從背後與側翼斬殺衝破防線的敵人。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYYaZS8GWM
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9sRiBrRoM
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6EQyiEC8X
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf5ruaFpiC
然而，第三波獸人騎兵，數量足有百餘，仍如巨浪洶湧逼近。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyBkL9Ols5
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDB4RrndNQ
三人皆已力近極限，盔甲染滿敵血，自身亦斑斑傷痕。公主的雙手緊握法杖，站在燃燒的木樁旁，裙袍飄揚，目光冷峻如神祇。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsT5c1sE0p
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXTof0cBLp
「夠了……不許再前進……！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKxQINKVpY
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto0oyV0T5I
她將法杖高舉於空，低聲吟誦那段自古王室代代傳承的祕咒。天空之中，雲層裂開，一道銀白的裂痕劃破黃昏，雷鳴轟然。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfa9sc80h4
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVAKBhWMD7
極光審判——女王血脈的秘術，施展後禁咒，她將長達一年無法再施展各種中級以上的法術！43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWCoGTAaqb
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0g5TGGWDB
一道閃耀的聖光之柱從天而降，將第三波獸人騎兵吞沒。巨型斑點鬣狗在光中哀鳴、翻滾，獸人則在閃焰中化作焦土與塵埃。只數息間，原本還要衝破戰線的敵人，全數灰飛煙滅，連武器與鎧甲都化為黑塵隨風散去。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjh1AjiNCuG
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItGL4vRfbu
寂靜，死一般的寂靜。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjQE4QYUtL
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpg7c6RBig
夸斯特單膝跪地，聖劍支撐著幾乎虛脫的身體；泰倫斯氣喘如牛，衣甲盡裂，渾身是血；露西則靠著一塊岩石站穩，手上的長劍早已缺口斑斑。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mbZPAwsCQ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvUhmpeQTE
而伊莉莎公主，緩緩地跪坐在地，法杖脫手，臉色蒼白如紙。她仰頭望向天邊那片慢慢癒合的雲層，氣若游絲地說：43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUngRlwL10S
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA4Qwl7Ujq
「這是……這次任務中，最後一次……施展中階法術了……」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQErErGjGWp
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxQ3aVkg80
風輕輕吹起她的金髮，宛如為她即將耗盡的魔力哀悼。而在這片死寂的戰場上，四人依然站著，宛如神明在黃昏前最後留在凡間的意志——43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlZsZt5WRh
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoRmhJogLd
不為榮耀，只為使命與同袍而戰。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa9uWMk40E
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MI0MsZHQJ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrYihnuK0o
