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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwu0i17pnP6
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cDvsBaazd
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriO0xcYdxy
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p4iU228ZD
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVnHKQhXI0
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra2r8hsVqZ
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt20IMPrsK
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGFZakoRPh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0GXjgBIU7
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSvQDgHDPn
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBssxRTjnBe
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW5Ug1aM9e
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！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sz1930Qlr
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq9zkIec1x
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB0lM83Oj5
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOy99YIyiE
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjEcwGgcXZ
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPwOqzWTlx
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtP7rNifPu
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEHCAEKcmG
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEEV0N6W47
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXShQ85ebJ
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI8Qef0Wi4
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCdIWrF7OV
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——93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtK3grz3Fc
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWVUHWWzCA
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkplUtjuTO
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpjya3fVCm
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wwqoFPs3U
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgywhOMjVky
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JZpTgGErg
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKu2Z0taLg
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcZXLZScC3
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmh1T6b7lh
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。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwyeCNAuMc
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaNMEYcMC3
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。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PyLTBA0oP
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO146EWWk5w
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。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zVP5yu02h
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgf1ypQ1Oi
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？」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoZMbIpxMd
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFQarIdCOI
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』。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWGwzmcXc0
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oLrZJOtYH
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ggcPhCgXX
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxHjV1rwWP
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LlSTeDGWd
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA6DZnwJLU
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！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWTO2elSAF
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVnuyKf0kA
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv5yyC89wb
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66PIBaUdsq
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFEesHJTyp
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvHi6vVdqj
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……」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3uuqYb6Do
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeXNmoQYc3
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkktTTgNj5O
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkG10ri6Od
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！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWLBnUczM1
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAL4PzRtH4
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMhyBJknkM
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqUOnvUrJq
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC8wCgzDXZ
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcvdqA7SOn
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lWMG7O3N3
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmUHzVoDsA
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKW0L8Mmeh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKorpnxUUdp
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiKbGZN7I6
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf5dsbxG48
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ghgs8WQ3K
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnQVPEOl2C
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwdy7EaMR5
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Ik7rCgeX
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDxe7krz3o
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHOqrPKo58
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUve88Xpfz
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa4qryQMRy
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzZ5L8n0Hf
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYBvnpsooz
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3NennjJtn
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTm1uC9qKE
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHOOPO4KKe
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzFnYI0CX3
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBUKY1cRMt
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSeSWY0xUV
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFRs3myXuj
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb1DeOR8vM
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5pchNTOgD
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHfuDuVvoX
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNpIgQ0VJy
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j8dbeJPGc
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH5RdS1PRh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL7UtLeQU7
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。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1QqBw5o84
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXcxbz28FJ
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！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g4KTYCn4H
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaW1Japcir
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvceMhlth1
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSTSyMkNMb
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmXRFCzafg
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQdeysr3GP
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH5xiZNnvs
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvnDw9K99J
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds7hR5Z0aK
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhChLbshosz
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEzFXK4LOO
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS1opPmky1
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！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbqRkp6oAt
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuawGRHbPkc
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6q236LejmT
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeVvnnLwOh
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——93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EZDXlyB3K
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7NPy7YEli
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0zxNGFVUZ
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb0Lrd6mBV
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。93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuOZ7cM3it
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhqAO0BenM
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22UMVsIPaM
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvVi3JUFdE
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。
