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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBbLrYB7jp
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuyUvElu10
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxM3T1WBqW
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDy17Mtzyv
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPAC8sur5w
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnFdWUwOlr
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhnLOm2eNE
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjsT8vMLkL
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwz8aG4k1T
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BTKDdeXsA
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3VeMyqrPy
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡko2jKxcG60
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kHrT4X3ha
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz6xzzfd59
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueScN3ZkrP
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAeceWWnEQ
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」。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbat7P1DH8V
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkALsKz8lO
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！」126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b5mXSMFJ4
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpMm2iKqqB
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvQP1ZST8k
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlA1lU6hkY
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Vy5OmSJ5
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyIauZoxvY
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelzfhDDa2R
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjclWmVpWgx
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj9JsApS8g
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgLiSuLpqg
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZNWyTViJ2
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSjGzykj0f
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tc3pkaGkT
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcjhD9FIab
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」。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51iiAoLdDF
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUjYndGJeG
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvDToKygrH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2sBi722s1
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAI163jwjo
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4N6RAMCJWv
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tS4ouwZC0
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx3RsEeNiv
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGjLUDJqVe
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzbzkMbSZ9
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2cXllnREq
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnxUv1NntB
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuUIkdmPvT
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWPsc44tH9
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97qvNksn9e
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G8tO8kK4A
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe79PXP9h5
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJAOdEnTN9
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbGdnR8nBo
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rLJbIteFm
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5z6vNCT60
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9uyb4OQIV
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpB32Ziq1j
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8zycAiU3r
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezO5Eep0gR
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jeW7QwEIz
───126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9QBOk7h9K
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJntNyTHHCl
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOLzEbWGKY
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YX5oDfcMU
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcjxBYL5K2
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHHM3135yP
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0qkwiQLS0
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJj0FePa1j
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——126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70nnWaEv4J
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4TiGE18eH
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCOsJocHT3
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFmGmSJXFC
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrqKkWjpJ3
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8bm5zt62t
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfl8yKuVSYM
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVKx7QlD0Z
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqswdzkCTf
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlvPtqCwv7
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！126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNz7J4dqiEP
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3vUC6qPsI
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP85WkY0JPr
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJSTUFnhUl
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla80kTFTV7
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J2TtCXSVW
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeWkMQyFBm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaPdMv4ubg
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlINedWN3y9
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkjbOynPxm
塔庫魯心中一凜。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYWQBCd1Wt
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI0NFOfDwI
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrKXmuhJNy
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEWHwVHiuY
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV4QnbYo8B
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OAF3fNA86
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！126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdxrJnu6VK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBfEC0YfeM
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ9GXsS4je
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYgAIolpVP
此地已不宜久留！126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejyhRjNEIE
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsTyv6HtLX
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhMoYPESm5
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK9kRzotBE
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvwJfKorTj
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvUbyGwKro
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHxPCP8u4z
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQyDYxDDfo
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDDL5pX02G
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wCl5T58s7
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOrntiI0hE
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16RQrVObpI
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W8yyGrvHD
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T4piAfsk7
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ovXVumcWF
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTgSdeUiTw
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM9jZ3s8Ce
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBm2ysvcF
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ680YbHeRHv
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ik35qzPJX
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTeL3YnVfx
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx3CvOyVhX
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN9WTUrOzK
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAXmiAUOkH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6FGrhUMzl
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTquWvMXu14
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMyQxxdx9u
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD4lAovqyF
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvZ9MMaP6v
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUbA86eD6y
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu7qpx4EwH
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNGae2sYW6
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQrJCp2geh
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt2BsbPuXz
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf2DhmdKAm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDSnky07zW
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9LLiS9cRm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7Z8F7btIk
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQszm3wRdw
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FyFGgg0Wh
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgzHSNYgJe
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9XhfOmDfx
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdz2pIolcb
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn80RL1pxg
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadL5V4WRpA
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ImGANhemf
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。126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3jyfVJFWm
126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX3KohNNW0
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。
