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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qqDZTVcyH
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2QDftUXtw
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XmyCuYMeC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFtCDKz8An
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnCKPVv54F
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE65dsrWrsn
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FnhBAyYhF
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdvU2PEH08
而塔庫魯，便是其中最離譜的一位之一。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Xl8fEbXdb
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKTdISs2rU
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGEFnUn5F1
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpypqgjG22j
另一回，他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJQGRdPoG2
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt0EhrIt4b
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKJPzOKwBx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw8bUSgv1p
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」。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn8i4sBSHy
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjrc1DhxcT
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！」138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRtSxRYWmU
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xeHsqfBjC
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ393yyE4qll
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVyWSkU2YD
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYAlpl1fAP
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRigBqzYYc
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVZCsQCBLH
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72WblaCUSI
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlgao8O5Im
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmWieWVHo8
事實上，山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SKjNbRJce
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKWQuYgnWp
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWxHpyQpCN
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY6Z8dYl89
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」。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMS6KdMa2t
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhGNE34VLz
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJPAPJFiZm
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAiZsfpTTh
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號：7-3-1-1。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCgGY4btw3
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ghtvsWsIZ
翻譯過來，正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eobcrJ0ap
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKdVAWs6bp
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdwGyvt5j9
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFfw5Wf3VQ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPOK2b5u19
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UMLXwJ2yv
到了第四天，他總算走到了熟悉的地形。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV6FkMnALi
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ90IBVWGT
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fUYwUvhRi
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uSjtZmpgm
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBLfXRCl51
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HvXr0tnVa
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3f1fblFSw
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna71wx04P1
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVtiqZCq24
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW9jUoFH9J
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPYfziFUQ3
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15XULyK3m4
無奈之下，他決定再次下到谷地，親自尋路。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiBFknBx9N
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKWFhAewk0
───138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIr16yQjOPu
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUws3gXhGGu
抵達谷底後，他先藏身於一塊巨岩後，屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uKcy69Jiw
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBVU0uH8QH
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPPSiA58dA
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp3Mugd49u
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm8WuCjxUm
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi2cey0PEb
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——138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SHJ0OnDMO
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsBmamoK8c
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲！138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DXkpoyZOZ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRms0SqIv2v
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後，貼地潛伏。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Wt1e94a3
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzqIth2ymK
不久，一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxBkccPzvk
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIPqcKx1EZ
他瞇起眼，仔細辨認。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgP9JYQnPj
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9FKj8rD2b
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！138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMtZX1zmTi
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ0L9Rj6sJ
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9j4mJBTKU
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H36Fb3Ywj
騎兵們動作一致，顯得訓練有素。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB9JhIAEVA
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZDlhOFfx1
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbfU30NNyh
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6y5KuVHwI
一切動作，乾淨俐落，毫無拖泥帶水。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8e8uVIKur
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3AqMGEkm3
塔庫魯心中一凜。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5lgGrPR6E
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6AHAx7Os9
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊，顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒！138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDKkBALgsx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZwkQufzYK
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAsAEA2IaR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebWQjE1fPS
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！138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzokoGc3ys
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDNhCjHq5u
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVqgYCGS6o
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaZtWd6GlY
此地已不宜久留！138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKmkqQoYeJ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZPKNDjyGZ
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY4KLPolqp
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn395tZ4nGk
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DNN0mgQ9Y
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB4Kuf7UVT
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5KVgi1fTR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKUw8hkXL3
在緊跟中，他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYOnPfUwvo
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqQpqlD6vl
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwbsb9Kzr4
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbYQTOGk33
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0dO8FUUjR
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg2KYuzQ8P
這些硬甲上，長滿了鋒利的棘刺，如同倒鉤般危險。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVLYPsw4uB
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg0Tqb3hmO
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniwdc3bMqH
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU5nv5ftXS
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeJ6X5OFlN
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi4GNxZsvd
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxU0eIed3j
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqqhrmj3EP
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdKVgD3qpx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRjmoJmlDL
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hkTXHlHSK
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeQ9GpUhyy
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADTlnTqQPL
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnwImv9qrU
幾名士兵翻身下馬，從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO3hCiK3tr
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUmnJMw5M8
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaF99Oypkd
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJECnP4HkZ
那是信號——通知後方大軍，這片林地已無伏兵，可以推進了。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZXwhdcFYh
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWccdGIfgah
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔，身形一縱，躲入山壁邊的森林。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHE51mgkSq
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zsPwYxqV6
進入林間，他如龍入大海般自在。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72RkYkoc94
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgVE1NAZTC
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQLvAZY1zQ
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtkt2lDYXD
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnYM8RVDrx
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYLCBh6Ayy
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooWf74N3h2
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR3rvnX3nm
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMQKQ7xhKu
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGhSxnihSZ
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。138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5dysANIXO
138Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh0VzSY867
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。
