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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHCzVsDdfU
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sHuaKKzsT
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiURVmDr25t
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSoJrXiLOA
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUFo4hQxwn
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUHTkQuDbs
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymsUXtxgni
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI3dlpq3ss
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa56BySfPO
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml5dhtfCSd
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uDOD5ox8e
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SWFdveZ8H
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！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcL1RFaaUA
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrWslFC5R0
眼下無計可施，眾人只得縮守在這片狹小的平台上。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn7z3FMK9o
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupb5ibVt2L
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjhXHDZiYQ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpzEmbBkdI
暫時，雙方都陷入了僵持。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfEZxBytjv
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BfmWk9KLI
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pEAhwt8zL
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaM7UaHwmZ
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa04LWD2UyL
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcUOOpYDzy
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——43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9ZM8O9SZQ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4zHwdSYc6
第一次，一塊巨石被他長柄鐵斧巧妙卸力，偏轉滑落山崖。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTqxgUVofJ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UAcjqx4oy
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmhgx3t234
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXtnskhUPW
見狀，敵方獸人驚惶失措，再無心思繼續丟擲。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Sw8ZTfKZ
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3c5t6sUej
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfLmJti3gb
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLLy0fO8Ve
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。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi6wUT0G7t
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLhVHwIHLK
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。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGx9XC2E32O
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4T8dMP9tk
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。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR6GrAyA9n
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBlJrzJzaO
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？」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23JxJDyLSv
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgNwr0nqcK
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』。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWXnSWQ5Cw
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0d6m0Ewws
蓋達聽了，露出恍然大悟的表情。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaBUpW9l0j
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqp4BeK0TK
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIEstBwLJD
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7T4BPYJ0l
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！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqGJVNCC5b
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhQyAP1faM
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV2cr0QyGI
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD30vv0Q5C
公主遠遠瞧見，立刻驚呼：「是岩鼠獸人挖掘的逃生通道！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRdHAjKOaa
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp7632vtM8
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……」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCTSC6ejfR
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4fH0eUt3z
公主莞爾一笑：「隊長做主即可，我隨行。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOovgzm6G0
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7rHMjv5P9
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！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBhvRNBSuY
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6hxYIxiL6
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXafEvMdHx
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PQM8pEDaD
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpyPvARKQe
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJTk1dm1nX
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dqWWrnmH5
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjJdqEobrM
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CtIYExYMt
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm01SKXce6N
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sMKnXaPUY
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorPRCCqQFL
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqflaKt3FaB
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAOZN54o8o
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4aCGHxexP
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfL8DfAss03
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmo57TpTNn
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5iYHVToAJ
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpUSmNBY3R
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlC5T9xSsv
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SDunfyZUR
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK0xXKxVWG
走了約五十公尺，前方赫然出現一扇快要朽爛的木門。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX9OoSrRRb
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90a5Y9kdos
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRJ3XhWtBK
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbfKQeOA39
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MquQwDCH6
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJK85tzfPK
此外，尚有兩道通往更深處的木門，同樣破敗不堪。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOYo9IP0vC
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl7OOz0y78
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvtiqmWf8X
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKpxXUxFcX
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfIiyphnOL
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHeLL3SxVG
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOGMfUxO8y
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU2vi7R6Jg
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。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLQuAkpfGf
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfkzcsjw0t
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！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg60ZSxwsm
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIVJUk2LqI
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdB28s38sxz
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZh8k3oOXj
此時，極度寂靜的岩室內，隱隱傳來地底深處的刮削聲——43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQEpcAHD6o
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DO7IASZhD
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoTsIl4rDu
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYYhceCCri
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5uzLfaoGo
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMa1hqbnin
露西皺眉輕語：「感覺聲音從兩邊同時傳來……像是，在正中間。」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvBO25ztIt
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lRIZ1UDwG
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！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpUFOy51oy
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIJGZuVRHo
他看向艾利歐特：「這次，你打頭陣！」43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD9zcyJvxB
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO6Njch48z
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——43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtFqL0PTPV
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnzlRU2hKo
第二對戀人，似乎也在此地悄悄萌芽。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHzbVq9OY5
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU0naURJ8K
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。43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDhBLe76GO
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y53uCC1hS
至於蓋達與塔庫魯？43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1bx3xZiJU
43Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFZH38Ulz8
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。
