最美麗的永夜女王，看起來是位二十歲左右的少女，實際上應該已經有了上千年的生命了。
花了三天的時間，一行人終於走出了那片單調而沉悶的山谷。映入眼簾的，是一座濃密而壓迫的森林。林木高聳入雲，枝葉層層交疊，宛若一張無邊無際的黑幕，將天光死死擋住。河谷中潺潺流淌的溪流，也在森林邊緣被幽暗吞噬，消失得無影無蹤。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPQ0LVdkrY
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIellxeAlz
夸斯特緩緩環視四周：前方，是一眼望不到盡頭的黑森林；而身後，則是由山谷延伸出的兩道陡峭山壁，猶如巨獸張開的血盆大口，將出口牢牢咬住。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaEXDtD2nB
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfazpzxeoOt
山壁下方佈滿了嶙峋怪石與蜿蜒曲折的支流，路徑險惡，幾乎無法通行。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgEIqEzF4s
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvxc9tGp3z
夸斯特低頭查看地圖，與泰倫斯、公主一同商討前路。然而，地圖上同樣只是一片密密麻麻的綠海，毫無明確的地標。仿佛這座森林本身，便是專為迷失而存在的陷阱。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFLOssjQ9o
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhul1UFNXdV
沉默良久，夸斯特終於嘆了口氣，緩緩開口：「看來，只有進森林了。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBtAfqdnRQ
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeq2Io48hX
這句話，猶如一顆重錘，敲在眾人心頭。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyQzRzFnm0
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1eU2wqMiB
因為沒有人知道，在那濃稠如墨的暗影深處，會藏著怎樣未知的恐懼。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk48QGi7Vu0
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTqabxMJnk
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyxiH3kj4G
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiz36XGvMi
夸斯特最終做出決斷，帶領隊伍深入森林。這次，由塔庫魯與泰倫斯擔任前鋒。一來仰仗泰倫斯豐富的野外經驗，二來，塔庫魯近來的表現，已經贏得了全隊的信任。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Lf00LSzh
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv899xKJ6j
然而，這永夜森林的地形遠超預期，崎嶇難行，藤蔓與樹根盤踞地面，稍不留神便會絆倒。僅第一個小時，伊莉莎就摔了三次，連她那慣常的從容神色也染上幾分狼狽。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbgmqTtd1U
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp7LeBaIdC
藤蔓橫生、濕滑的苔蘚，與突兀冒出的根莖交織成天然的陷阱，每一步都充滿險惡。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMay0rLBf0G
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbibrd2HfE
大約二十分鐘後，塔庫魯心頭一緊——他感覺到了一股隱晦的視線，像是無形的絲線般纏繞在隊伍周圍。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiE49ILzyI
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBIfQUzc13
而且，這並非來自單一方向，而是從四面八方，越聚越多，如同密林中的潛伏者，靜靜等待獵物落入網中。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb3bZi5r5F
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvgyX9J8Sw
塔庫魯立刻將異狀告知泰倫斯。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeelCLkmRSY
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUke5K6Dku
泰倫斯當機立斷，揮手示意全隊停下，蹲下身仔細觀察。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxGOPaXKKi
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5XPa4DwBB
然而四周靜悄悄，除了濃重的黑影與間或飄過的霧氣，什麼異樣也無從察覺。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE6wEU5LWO
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk0CFhnduI
泰倫斯搖了搖頭，輕聲示意：「小心戒備，但先繼續前進。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPJsojy18l
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3TxBQN90A
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfLfeO0JvB
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0Q9K1vA9u
不到十分鐘後，隊伍前方，兩棵粗壯的古樹之間，懸掛著一塊扁牌。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl0kNkYCaL
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm1njhf38C
牌面斑駁古舊，藤蔓纏繞，但隱約可見奇異的紋路。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJXfY8XhN7
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiXGpqL4g9
塔庫魯一眼認出，這種標誌他並不陌生——正是先前當他被金獅國追擊時，誤入禁地時所見到的相同款式的標牌！27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYQuC1aWqj
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBqSUTREAK
唯一不同的是，這塊扁牌上，刻著更加繁複且陌生的文字。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DlqZRWolT
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7U36es70j
泰倫斯臉色一變，立刻揮手令全隊停下，並蹲伏於地。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9SFmtJQ6Y
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpIAZnkLnM
氣氛霎時凝重，連空氣都像是被拉緊了弦。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDDobrIvWL
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgSYohog0r
夸斯特快步上前，壓低聲音：「怎麼回事？天神族的標牌為何出現在這？」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HVf0IMq2P
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8dq0L95QM
泰倫斯沒有答話，只是從懷中掏出地圖，指向上頭一片標記著「永夜森林」的陰影地帶。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRU04M22SH
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcBZuofuTP
夸斯特看了一眼，隨即點點頭表示意會，來到永夜森林，代表這趟任務還有希望完成，情況還不算太壞。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCCDw2vVef
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid4ANdHSpl
現在的問題是：要怎麼走出這個濃密的永夜森林？27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLc82ScngI
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5rbdeBaXn
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDcqv6pXuG
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sQUlkdkKy
他深吸一口氣，剛欲轉身向後方報告，異變驟生——27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI6MsQuRQu
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcA8BQvs60
從四周密林之中，突然竄出數十名手持長矛的神秘人影！27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii1s9IXw3h
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLzVth2nRe
動作迅捷如獵豹，轉眼便將隊伍團團圍住。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr6HmMDIUw
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AECkoPZXh
每一支長矛，寒光凜凜，筆直指向眾人心臟。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiFvtFQwK2
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOgnplQ3Mo
即便是身經百戰的夸斯特，也被這突如其來的包圍震得舉起雙手，不敢輕舉妄動。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRXbk8FtHw
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSUl3jj9Qq
一行人驚魂未定，只能任憑這群異族人將他們牢牢控制。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHAcANSsg8
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJRtLuz1sh
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJejDrIaHs
冷靜下來後，夸斯特細觀這群人。不同於過去所見的天神族形象，他們身披墨綠長袍與斗篷，與森林融為一體，手中的長矛亦仿若由翠綠之木精雕而成，隱隱泛著詭異光澤，顯然非凡鐵所鑄。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJtp4VXl5v
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhRVl7867K
領頭的是一位氣質冷峻的女性天神族，她的目光如同寒星般掃視全隊，聲音平靜卻充滿不容抗拒的威嚴：「沒想到，竟還有人類膽敢闖入永夜森林……罕見。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7mgfXLuhP
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0VtreGXQF
她微微一笑，笑意卻未達眼底。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLuKa9g87W
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDvPh7keMM
「不過既然來了，便是客人。請隨我來。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ970FxdMKV
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQlMIaxZO5
話音落下，其餘天神族人整齊收矛，動作乾淨俐落，宛如訓練有素的軍團。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunGOYltclB
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF1YFlF6kA
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mA5t74YQ8
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77kbozdnO5
女性隊長一個手勢，便有數名天神族士兵上前走在前頭，引導隊伍。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlgDXHF4jm
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ahfSSvxoB
夸斯特與公主交換了個眼神，迅速默契達成一致。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFlisUGtH3
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lbCNyVzbT
他對塔庫魯和泰倫斯打了個手勢，示意他們配合行動。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEjVORQNDb
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvGNreYoAY
一行人被天神族護衛著，緩緩走入那片幽暗無盡的森林深處——27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmok9fLUnq
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF8lF7rl4t
塔庫魯一邊行走，一邊警覺地打量四周。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbR7qWi5XlR
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZqomviyVY
這片森林比任何地方都要壓抑。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXMjQxkrCS
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtNNSNuNbp
枝葉如巨獸血肉，藤蔓猶如盤踞的蛇群。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8N5HDMeX0
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zSW7az4Pa
天空被完全遮蔽，四周瀰漫著濃稠的黑霧，仿佛連時間也在這裡停滯不前。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3I7hH721R
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO9NvGzKcH
耳邊傳來模糊不清的低語，像是森林本身在竊竊私語。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4FAYyLGJW
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaSW2YS8fo
腳步聲落地時，竟也被這片暗影吞噬，不留一絲回響。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaFdYxs3G6
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B4gRPLjzB
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea8ykCrkqg
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapgS4fE4jL
而突然間，穿越一片林間空地，塔庫魯發現——前方，數十名天神族戰士列隊而立，持矛戒備，宛若雕像。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn7WeB5tkp
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDT4Xq2RqJ
塔庫魯心頭一緊，握緊鐵斧，卻見女隊長輕揮手臂，戰士們整齊收矛，分立兩側，讓出一條通道。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMrP10y0Ko
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpGjEQOnz6
她回頭，對塔庫魯與泰倫斯微微頷首，臉上隨即恢復冷峻之色，女隊長一個揮手，戰士們無聲無息地讓開一條筆直通道。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJDLbUP2bS
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXCh2624K2
動作如同機械般整齊，一絲不苟。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdKFWuPTBw
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbbrWcbFg4
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrPtIcajHe
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0vkoDELOl
隊伍在引領下穿越一條藤蔓纏繞的小徑，沿途，天神族人從草叢、樹蔭中冒出，數量越來越多。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WnE8vYCEk
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRHWH1sYCo
他們隱匿於草叢、盤根樹影之間，冷冷注視著這群異鄉人，眼神中充滿了警惕與探究，就像在觀看一群奇異的異界生物。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTP0BsZmhK
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGAJK2ZV64
塔庫魯被盯得渾身不自在，暗自吐槽：這感覺，簡直像進了動物園，還得自費當展品！27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVd5b4PeiH
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OFmyk39k3
終於，在一片被藤蔓和奇花包圍的空地中央，一座自然編織而成的巨大帳幕矗立。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeahSQJHm2P
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijuoGBhyoK
冷峻女隊長輕掀帷幕，做了個「請」的手勢。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22KSbB50A0
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdtinFWmos
塔庫魯等人踏入其中，只見帳內光線柔和，空氣中瀰漫著淡淡的花香。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GyPgC7eU1
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3TTSAIHPb
正中央，一位氣質高貴的女子端坐於木製王座之上。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx6gIdYQ3H
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63t6C1tTfL
她一身繡滿繁複花紋的長袍，周圍奇花環繞，猶如神祇降臨人間。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumBhHd8Awp
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm89u2vj4gB
那雙深邃如夜空的眼眸，靜靜注視著來訪的一行人，微微一笑，卻讓人不由自主地想要跪拜。27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k8MxxnLoc
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M3BatBrdD
冷峻女隊長恭敬地介紹道：27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcY3awGag8
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HnmRvR05h
「這位，便是永夜森林的統治者——西方天神族的女王，永夜女王。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLU2CdEyf9
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pPrx2r4E0
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh7zcZsuZe
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCjXvZsJL2
塔庫魯趁隊伍稍作休整，先摸一下左手臂，然後利用默念與主機交流：「愛神九三：我以為只有萬縱谷那邊的禁地才有天神族的存在，沒想到在光牆之外也有？這永夜女王看起來不太好惹，有啥底細？ＯＶＥＲ。」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCgBMgRAy4
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjpUAgIwe
光幕閃爍，主機的文字透著一絲揶揄：「哦，終於問到重點了！我簡單的說，天神族一樣是人，也有七情六慾，原本的天神族是統歸大法師來管理，不過數千年以前，當時的大法師要建立起那一座光牆時，幾位實力與地位不輸當時大法師的大長老便趁機帶人留在光牆之外，從此與光牆之內禁地的天神族分道揚鑣。這永夜森林便是其中之一，另外還有幾個光牆外的天神族居住地。而永夜女王便是當代的永夜森林的統治者！」27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9meQNO9ZYV
27Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMW3DD8WM2
塔庫魯暗自吐了一口氣：天神族長的這麼好看，一樣會想爭權奪利的，看來只要是人，差不多都是同樣的一副德性！
然後按「加至主畫面」