
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAmGGvTYZ6XX
124Please respect copyright.PENANAAtJJFSYppe
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAhoPdeIFHoW
124Please respect copyright.PENANAXkpI4v06at
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAXTdhRzj1Jm
124Please respect copyright.PENANA2t80nVquiT
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAvINOmPldGr
124Please respect copyright.PENANApNevdObOdx
而塔庫魯,便是其中最離譜的一位之一。124Please respect copyright.PENANAJpOB3lhUSL
124Please respect copyright.PENANA2fJOeJ4Mpb
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAui1f1Qv7vV
124Please respect copyright.PENANAGN7wqKLIBU
另一回,他迷迷糊糊地闖進了女生浴室。124Please respect copyright.PENANAgrpGEmy4Rk
124Please respect copyright.PENANAUnGQ1zqpla
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAAhxHupNMTp
124Please respect copyright.PENANAYMnsRvtazd
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」。124Please respect copyright.PENANAjwGLCtYfa6
124Please respect copyright.PENANAe14WZd3ZRJ
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!」124Please respect copyright.PENANApRavcTTUex
124Please respect copyright.PENANABJkPwHYgWn
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAzELspLN4PU
124Please respect copyright.PENANAMigifxYTGE
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAG3C6Vlc6lR
124Please respect copyright.PENANAh1uWEThuGx
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAo8uyLq2KLi
124Please respect copyright.PENANAeVWFGattF7
124Please respect copyright.PENANANqdgCVUIFR
124Please respect copyright.PENANAWQxTyfyGt6
事實上,山蠻族人的迷路本領並非個例。124Please respect copyright.PENANA4Shvc3fDyN
124Please respect copyright.PENANAP74edE1Ftw
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAlgbANtdRT6
124Please respect copyright.PENANAGTTcFqFCXt
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」。124Please respect copyright.PENANAkKr09fJq8C
124Please respect copyright.PENANAIF4lWYz7a0
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANALJ8H0mgEXO
124Please respect copyright.PENANAaUmFFxf004
塔庫魯低頭看了看自己胸甲上刻的番號:7-3-1-1。124Please respect copyright.PENANAX3mMGYf66J
124Please respect copyright.PENANAO8RZ3atm8D
翻譯過來,正是「第七大隊、第三中隊、第一小隊、一號位置」。124Please respect copyright.PENANAsxZIX3fodO
124Please respect copyright.PENANAmO2elaLAAn
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAzGQhRVl7uj
124Please respect copyright.PENANAS8D8UTCLcb
124Please respect copyright.PENANAu0jpAztUA7
124Please respect copyright.PENANAdBa8ukn7wP
到了第四天,他總算走到了熟悉的地形。124Please respect copyright.PENANASPpHS2hr7p
124Please respect copyright.PENANACr3qRXWd2J
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANA4eOek4vSDW
124Please respect copyright.PENANA6deXnQGKfM
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANABNVdjXAxVZ
124Please respect copyright.PENANAfgOzLJTe9z
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAaTuWNoFyet
124Please respect copyright.PENANACAuFMBAmSp
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAcBQDGX26xv
124Please respect copyright.PENANABaxAgAyVig
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAJdTp51lhXf
124Please respect copyright.PENANAAc2vEcTkRT
無奈之下,他決定再次下到谷地,親自尋路。124Please respect copyright.PENANAYA9qFDzT3j
124Please respect copyright.PENANAqIRjO9ZmTI
───124Please respect copyright.PENANAbEz30y5WEs
124Please respect copyright.PENANA3fXB9hFqfr
抵達谷底後,他先藏身於一塊巨岩後,屏氣凝神地觀察周圍。124Please respect copyright.PENANAT8aw74ct2M
124Please respect copyright.PENANALoGl5nYPFK
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANA1CNXIKw9Io
124Please respect copyright.PENANA6kVV7Y9BDi
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANApS9JTBPTtG
124Please respect copyright.PENANAIaNGlwEDly
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——124Please respect copyright.PENANAhM5KWDkp4Y
124Please respect copyright.PENANACZuZ8m96C2
遠處傳來了低沉有力的馬蹄聲!124Please respect copyright.PENANAXqv5oTsD7R
124Please respect copyright.PENANA6c6Vm1hGtl
塔庫魯迅速縮回岩後,貼地潛伏。124Please respect copyright.PENANAsGgVNyWpHH
124Please respect copyright.PENANAOld6n6wEox
不久,一隊騎兵自萬縱谷奔騰而出。124Please respect copyright.PENANAPZG6jNtoFI
124Please respect copyright.PENANAvbFnxxegpo
他瞇起眼,仔細辨認。124Please respect copyright.PENANAe28H2oxdZg
124Please respect copyright.PENANA09bh0ntSff
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!124Please respect copyright.PENANAENTVuNpwL4
124Please respect copyright.PENANAYNjWfum7B3
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAfNocuYpHe7
124Please respect copyright.PENANAI1wwLMAD4l
騎兵們動作一致,顯得訓練有素。124Please respect copyright.PENANADAdG2zVqtK
124Please respect copyright.PENANANiiFEjZD5S
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAdsONxdClxZ
124Please respect copyright.PENANAA7oNdRN6Ri
一切動作,乾淨俐落,毫無拖泥帶水。124Please respect copyright.PENANA4arrVLcdiF
124Please respect copyright.PENANAhTLLpcLx0E
塔庫魯心中一凜。124Please respect copyright.PENANAHTZnxqAcHs
124Please respect copyright.PENANAOP8BN6aIo7
這種紀律森嚴的探路小隊,顯然是奇襲部隊的前鋒!124Please respect copyright.PENANAl7Fe0M9dzv
124Please respect copyright.PENANAXFG9GKIi5d
124Please respect copyright.PENANASVS5eoJ2Z3
124Please respect copyright.PENANAJk4nXo8KMp
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!124Please respect copyright.PENANAAfDPy49HFg
124Please respect copyright.PENANACSL6RlCjQn
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAzXRhaZFMuk
124Please respect copyright.PENANACRIRO2HpnK
此地已不宜久留!124Please respect copyright.PENANAKRBn2wcH51
124Please respect copyright.PENANAXNBCspS0Kx
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAhUhPufhYnJ
124Please respect copyright.PENANAemvo8BDgRn
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAFk778uK6UF
124Please respect copyright.PENANA12EOTZLBYE
124Please respect copyright.PENANAPcNOYeAjbs
124Please respect copyright.PENANA0RBlQY3Vbh
在緊跟中,他也注意到金獅國騎兵所騎的坐騎——刺棘馬。124Please respect copyright.PENANAX4dxAUKAaW
124Please respect copyright.PENANAnQmNgbnEqa
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAYaQ1r7nQ8B
124Please respect copyright.PENANA85x7qbXi1w
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANApAHAvDZrRt
124Please respect copyright.PENANAiFwMAVf1mU
這些硬甲上,長滿了鋒利的棘刺,如同倒鉤般危險。124Please respect copyright.PENANAx7EXv3CyrL
124Please respect copyright.PENANAWCT15yWk63
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANA6v244B6Kw7
124Please respect copyright.PENANACG3ZFhVjW5
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAiZKGoGRWXS
124Please respect copyright.PENANAEZmvXanRt4
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAfflDXN85Y7
124Please respect copyright.PENANA9KsUOXay6D
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANA1AaqYJs3ti
124Please respect copyright.PENANAHYoHuE6a4C
124Please respect copyright.PENANANasWvfv4bk
124Please respect copyright.PENANAgLG8eL6qzW
這支騎兵在森林邊緣再次停下來。124Please respect copyright.PENANAmcj2GLIdFp
124Please respect copyright.PENANAqZtGl7nh0i
幾名士兵翻身下馬,從鞍袋中取出像是接力棒般的煙棍。124Please respect copyright.PENANAvtfSJw0FLW
124Please respect copyright.PENANAE0JqWQ7WQr
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANADfd7HUouco
124Please respect copyright.PENANAuf1Rq7wNZP
那是信號——通知後方大軍,這片林地已無伏兵,可以推進了。124Please respect copyright.PENANAckb6EQUAai
124Please respect copyright.PENANAJLVLAXw2PF
塔庫魯抓住這個空檔,身形一縱,躲入山壁邊的森林。124Please respect copyright.PENANAC0hWVrXAfq
124Please respect copyright.PENANAuXl6jPAPQC
進入林間,他如龍入大海般自在。124Please respect copyright.PENANAO8i2dvvVqh
124Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z8KmgLNtA
124Please respect copyright.PENANAaStFKKbnCB
124Please respect copyright.PENANAmaepiIbyhD
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAeGZhVO3DiT
124Please respect copyright.PENANALo8H7GMz7n
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAo4Yw9If7CE
124Please respect copyright.PENANAFMl9TXYfDD
但他並不打算輕啟殺戒。124Please respect copyright.PENANATGU2Ah6deE
124Please respect copyright.PENANAVsgIqLjzfw
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。124Please respect copyright.PENANAfU1Usv9AR6
124Please respect copyright.PENANAovnC63Q0Ru
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。