寒冷。139Please respect copyright.PENANAk2FGSJqrKw
139Please respect copyright.PENANAQHSuM3vQBg
這是不死者甦醒時的第一個感受,也是他轉化為吸血鬼後許久未曾體會到的溫度。凝滯的空氣瀰漫著難聞氣味,腐朽與敗壞的氣息竄進鼻腔,淌入久未活絡的肺腑,由內而外蔓生的寒氣擄獲全身,僵硬的關節傳來骨骼摩擦的聲響。139Please respect copyright.PENANAowoZBKkdzJ
139Please respect copyright.PENANAPfvi53ON5p
接著,是漆黑與虛無。139Please respect copyright.PENANAc7hNYVCzCy
139Please respect copyright.PENANALwpEYQ0zEh
揭下覆蓋面部的布帛,睜開鮮紅色的眼睛,那雙能看透黑夜的視覺瞧見了一片幽暗,本應休憩於鴉閣堡寢殿內的自己正身處狹窄的陰冷空間,斑駁的石壁取代了華貴的布幔,錯置的不協調入侵神志,破碎不堪的記憶在此刻更加凌亂,難以拼湊。139Please respect copyright.PENANAOb7fvxGZKB
139Please respect copyright.PENANAucqhgAVHOx
不死者遺忘了自己的名字,遺忘了自己的過往,遺失了所有構築一個個體所需的要素,如同一具徒有思覺的空殼。139Please respect copyright.PENANAsjrtIVusRE
139Please respect copyright.PENANADJ1GxZO768
他是誰?來自何處?是否曾有過家人?全然是寂寥的虛白,空蕩的心口唯獨謹記著一抹紅色的身影,一名永眠於雪山神殿內的精靈。139Please respect copyright.PENANAh2tOezCMrZ
139Please respect copyright.PENANABUnRBwLi7P
他記不起對方的身分,憶不清對方與自己的關係,可當那張逝去生息的容顏映入眼底時,心臟便會漫起一股難以言喻的疼,宛若千根尖針扎進經脈,讓早已失卻痛覺的軀殼反覆經歷難以忍受的煎熬。139Please respect copyright.PENANAPRfEeb4H6m
139Please respect copyright.PENANAP2ph1KVE9F
他想再次與那雙清澈的綠眸相望,再次目睹秀麗的薄唇漾起笑容。這是不死者殘存的渴望,亦是他奉獻己身追求的唯一目標。139Please respect copyright.PENANANtbFM0D9tT
139Please respect copyright.PENANAMpnEqVMldx
他記得自己與某個存在簽訂了契約,晉升為巴洛維亞的「領主」,在那片被迷霧籠罩的大陸擔任統治者,治理並收割被困於該處的靈魂,供奉那位給予他永生與力量的「神」。139Please respect copyright.PENANADU4IFXi33C
139Please respect copyright.PENANA5PDRjru9Op
然而,現在的他卻感知不到「神」的庇護,甚至無法連結恩賜擷取魔力——這不正常——強烈的違和感驅使著不死者起身行動。139Please respect copyright.PENANAH1Nsi2IWuN
139Please respect copyright.PENANAAoyIoXwgf5
他得離開這裡。139Please respect copyright.PENANAcNs6dPS8vr
139Please respect copyright.PENANAdCFeRZqh6T
吸血鬼眨動乾澀的眼皮,重新審視目前的境況。他摸索著自身與周遭,發覺自己僅只穿著質感粗糙的麻布衣,慣用的武器與聖徽不翼而飛。沒有能夠自保的裝備意味著危險與威脅,這份不安全感令他不自覺繃緊神經,提高了防備四周的警覺。向腳邊望去,一簇微亮的光暈閃爍著,像是點燃的燭火隨風搖曳,不死者謹慎地挪動四肢,朝著光亮處前進。139Please respect copyright.PENANAjudCJeYBlc
139Please respect copyright.PENANABtFwZfdkQ4
「誒,老大們,你們醒啦?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAtjSnP3NO4R
139Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4Y96e4oX3
吸血鬼爬出狹小石室的下一秒,泛著鼻音的高昂腔調突兀地響起,一顆漂浮於半空的骷髏頭張開下顎,喀拉喀拉地歡快擺動著。不死者的瞳孔閃過赤紅的凶光,肢體不假思索地迅速展開反應,衝刺、凌空、擒拿,動作一氣呵成,他的右掌緊緊扣住那顆頭顱,狠戾的眼神毫無掩飾地散發敵意。139Please respect copyright.PENANAtFXOFerLmJ
139Please respect copyright.PENANA62gWH5UQYY
正欲開口質問,他的餘光便捕捉到襲來的臂膀,一名植有火紅色長髮的戰俑抓住了吸血鬼的右手腕,似乎有意阻止他的審訊。139Please respect copyright.PENANA8aFbpUCLu9
139Please respect copyright.PENANAdAnEaSXwJF
敵人?139Please respect copyright.PENANA1Qbkk0o8fQ
139Please respect copyright.PENANAW2fpPhncuc
腦海的警鈴嗡嗡作響,積累的猜疑與戒備化作怒火流竄全身,不死者精壯的肌肉暴漲青筋,醞釀著即將潰堤的蠻橫,衝突一觸即發。139Please respect copyright.PENANA5QLfu7B7M0
139Please respect copyright.PENANALhOb6ISLe5
「我認識你們!」突然,一聲訝異的叫嚷衝散了吸血鬼凝聚的殺機,一名藍髮的半精靈自右側的石室奔出,微翹的卷髮在尖長的耳際活潑擺盪,隨後,青年無視劍拔弩張的氣氛,兩手狀似親暱地搭上不死者與戰俑的肩膀,「祕術師、裁決官,現在好像不是在這邊打打鬧鬧的時候吧?」139Please respect copyright.PENANASdgvrwPTjq
139Please respect copyright.PENANAWKII3BDFJ2
驀地,殘缺的回憶斷片湧入不死者的大腦,五張臉孔與代號逐一清晰,他辨認出了眼前之人,祕術師與渡鴉。同時,他察覺此處有五間石室,包括自己,沉睡其中的人們相繼清醒,除了身側的二人,還有一名躲在洞口向外窺探的嬌小人類,以及一名倚在牆邊、雙手抱胸的白髮精靈,那是引路者與觀察者。139Please respect copyright.PENANAXiLOVLjIzH
139Please respect copyright.PENANAlzv3ccYbe5
他們是朋友——當這個奇異又莫名肯定的意念浮現時,被稱作裁決官的吸血鬼不自覺冷笑,「祕術師,妳還要抓著我到什麼時候?」他刻意抬眉挑釁。139Please respect copyright.PENANAYba2mHOIKM
139Please respect copyright.PENANA17UA30B5Ah
「你還要抓著他到什麼時候?」戰俑不帶情感的機械音回應道。139Please respect copyright.PENANAL35ydXjZxr
139Please respect copyright.PENANAlDbKApd2Tw
「老大!老大!放開我啊,老大!」被控制住的骷髏頭倉皇叫喊,掙扎地想掙脫束縛,卻力有未逮,「我知道你們此時有些困惑。沒事、沒事,我也很困惑啊!我們活著就是一場困惑之旅,哈哈!」他放聲大笑,注意到在場其他人並未響應自己的笑談,又默默安靜閉口。139Please respect copyright.PENANA48oqMXp3WU
139Please respect copyright.PENANAVOL6icSkma
斜睨了一眼意圖調笑的不死生物,裁決官又問,「祕術師,妳認得這個傢伙?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAZU6a2stgUt
139Please respect copyright.PENANA1aBE0JGgLE
「記憶丟失、記憶丟失⋯⋯」複述著毀損的訊號,戰俑停頓了數秒才斷斷續續地回話,「他⋯⋯該為我們解釋⋯⋯我們的狀況。」139Please respect copyright.PENANApSLwWddno5
139Please respect copyright.PENANADt9JD60ulo
「先放開他吧,聽聽看目前的狀況到底是怎麼回事。」一旁的精靈女子放下盤胸的手緩緩走近,淡漠的語氣挾帶著打量與告誡,「你最好不要耍花樣。」139Please respect copyright.PENANAJssAcFmxuI
139Please respect copyright.PENANAncveWINyR7
「嘿嘿,我沒手沒腳的,能耍什麼花樣?用眼睛耍嗎?」頜骨快速開闔,骷髏頭的訕笑在吸血鬼威脅似地收緊力道後立刻消停,「好好好,我知道了,老大。先和你們自我介紹。我叫莫提,是一位風流倜儻的位面旅人,如果我還活著的話啦,但我死得有點早。」139Please respect copyright.PENANAOYsnHYLocW
139Please respect copyright.PENANAYVncDXsbeV
穿梭各個位面的旅行者,吸血鬼對此並不陌生,有太多同樣類型的冒險者來到巴洛維亞,無論是出於何種因緣,又有何種境遇,終究是無法逃脫命喪在迷霧之地的命運,靈魂被囊括進「神」的領域。139Please respect copyright.PENANAvUGnQ24L9y
139Please respect copyright.PENANAOpIRU1WK2u
「聽起來你的口才很好。」裁決官不禁冷哼,「倘若說出任何一句謊言,你知道會有什麼下場。」他看向觀察者,「妳應該能辨識出來吧?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAqM9eHracYk
139Please respect copyright.PENANA0gvEKPGNFr
白髮精靈點點頭,淡金色的眼眸微微瞇起,緊盯著被吸血鬼釋放、重獲自由的骷髏頭,祕術師也隨即鬆開箝制裁決官的手,向後退去一步,水晶製成的眼球明滅著電光,似是啟動了某種程序運行。139Please respect copyright.PENANA2xZKwoZXIt
139Please respect copyright.PENANAl1jocjTZbI
「人之將死,其言也善,我沒有必要說謊,你們又是誰啊?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAxzDX3eH7Qz
139Please respect copyright.PENANAkj8usKGWwj
身形矮小的人類青年怯生生地踏出石室,湊近細瞧漂浮的頭顱,伸手戳了戳灰白的表面,「雖然我很好奇你是怎麼運作的,但我更好奇你為什麼稱呼我們為老大?」139Please respect copyright.PENANASPUy3NYQXv
139Please respect copyright.PENANAoFfX0gOsJK
「我看到每個人都叫老大。」莫提理所當然地說道,「先示弱總是沒有錯,但⋯⋯我沒想到這招沒有效果。」他乾笑了數聲,尷尬地飄離了引路者,避開對方身後那位凶神惡煞的吸血鬼。139Please respect copyright.PENANAHQF84vIYOP
139Please respect copyright.PENANAZypcOXmvSZ
「所以你也不曉得我們為什麼會到這裡?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAdvXnBlDuSU
139Please respect copyright.PENANAHBMkst6ruD
「有趣,你們應該已經死了,畢竟這裡是太平間,灰燼使者的停屍房。」莫提飛至半空,環視著底下眾人的面孔,饒富興味地觀察本該成為亡者的人們,「法印城的死人都會被送來這裡,你們這般活蹦亂跳可要小心啦,在灰燼使者的地盤,可不允許已死之人隨便走動。」139Please respect copyright.PENANALHA2keYKS6
139Please respect copyright.PENANAfDmw5nuAqR
「什麼?所以這裡是死後會到的地方嗎?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAxzu6b0Eok7
139Please respect copyright.PENANA0uLoIOGw7k
「我不能死啊!我弟弟該怎麼辦?我不能丟下他!」139Please respect copyright.PENANAhDsXAmG0mu
139Please respect copyright.PENANA2HM3UJ7JSJ
渡鴉慌張追問,引路者抱頭哀鳴,衝擊的事實令他們不由得提高了音量,語速越漸急躁,焦慮難安地來回踱步。139Please respect copyright.PENANAYig6m2QclQ
139Please respect copyright.PENANAKGmXMTpdtD
「哈哈!死掉的人都會回歸他們的信仰,法印城沒有信仰,這裡是宇宙的十字路口,最中立的地方。」莫提嬉笑地左右搖擺,示意眾人查看彼此額間、以碳筆標示的符號,「但你們的確死了,已經被標記準備下葬,你們著實有些奇妙,是一群出現異狀的人呀!」139Please respect copyright.PENANAIFfYNvI0gc
139Please respect copyright.PENANAb6WHCjEPL8
法印城?自己為何會在這裡?139Please respect copyright.PENANAefjLUdGvLt
139Please respect copyright.PENANA9MWZO2YQmU
吸血鬼滿腹的疑惑依然無從解答,所在地的揭露帶來了更多謎團。他確信自己從未親自造訪這個特別的位面,但城市之名被他人道出口時,那股似曾相識感卻是貨真價實的。139Please respect copyright.PENANAX3RlMmAMmn
139Please respect copyright.PENANAHTzDzH0EOZ
與魔契綁定的自己不可能真正死亡,「神」賜予了他不滅的肉體與精神,無論被摧毀多少次,吸血鬼總是能一而再、再而三地復甦,未於巴洛維亞重生必然是個錯誤。139Please respect copyright.PENANAZfKM7hsJeh
139Please respect copyright.PENANA3EasreO3ke
既然是錯誤,尋覓因果、導回正軌便可。139Please respect copyright.PENANAHlvaFq6Ldl
139Please respect copyright.PENANAUxlKHFQ3vi
裁決官粗魯地拭去被寫下的記號,越過堆放各式解剖器材與未知藥水的層架,走向盡頭的鐵門。139Please respect copyright.PENANAGU6GNwgszd
139Please respect copyright.PENANADcD9O7l967
「灰燼使者是處理將死卻沒有死的人,那是否代表像我們這樣的案例挺多的?」觀察者問道。139Please respect copyright.PENANAdNbvykhR1B
139Please respect copyright.PENANAkFvgteui2n
「不不不,在法印城死而復活可不常見!我之前也只見過一個,而你們是我一天內看見的五個!」139Please respect copyright.PENANAhOc5NQTiIa
139Please respect copyright.PENANAGJluEj643w
「那之前那位是怎麼離開的?」引路者急切地揮動手臂,迫不及待地提問最為關鍵的逃離線索。139Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7iiZlqQXt
139Please respect copyright.PENANATVda5dJrAp
「通過那扇門,管道間走到底就可以爬出去。」139Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZNzMYv8Ce
139Please respect copyright.PENANAIokxnQkIjh
喀。139Please respect copyright.PENANA7mmikOVWUS
139Please respect copyright.PENANASC2NBQ4RLE
莫提語落的瞬間,吸血鬼果斷地推開門扉,其餘之人相互對視,拋下猶疑陸續跟隨。祕術師順手拿取木架上的手術刀,低聲吟唱驅動煉金符文的咒語,將儲存在體內的能量附著於刀身,翠綠的火焰燃起,點亮了陰暗的廊道。139Please respect copyright.PENANAFwnmJOErM3
139Please respect copyright.PENANAOXI8AV9geX
引路者目不轉睛地仰望戰俑有別於凡人的施法方式,興奮讚嘆,「祕術師妳真是一如既往優秀呢,尤其是這副完美的機械身體!」139Please respect copyright.PENANAV5BkT0353R
139Please respect copyright.PENANA0gAcgMXjna
「我們穿的麻布衣太顯眼了。」渡鴉拉扯衣襟,嫌棄地嘟囔碎語,「有沒有適合的衣服可以替換?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAVrwzjoIIkm
139Please respect copyright.PENANAY3aX0UoE3Y
「附近有遺物保管室,如果你們的東西還沒被處理的話,應該都在那裡,往左走就能看見了。」骷髏頭目送眾人離去,在最後一人步出停屍房前,貼心地替萍水相逢的有緣者指引方位。139Please respect copyright.PENANAkJ2f4smuqs
139Please respect copyright.PENANAOcQlbLu2Se
保管室無人看守,門也沒有落鎖,守備十分鬆散,裁決官輕易地推門而入,火光照耀下,層層鐵櫃依循著特殊編號有序排列,引路者比劃方才所見的額間記號,帶領眾人前往相對應的層櫃。139Please respect copyright.PENANAj4ZxvVvxHn
139Please respect copyright.PENANA3eeO2dz5GW
吸血鬼首先尋獲了屬於自己的盔甲,又在底層的抽屜覓得令他備感安心的聖徽。將黝黑的劍盾徽記納入掌心,裁決官的指腹摩娑著熟悉的輪廓,皮膚與金屬表面貼合的平滑觸感帶來些許寬慰,即便他仍舊無法聯繫「神」的力量,這枚聖徽仍是象徵了他的堅持,在空白的昔日與實現願望的未來之間搭建起名為信念的橋樑。139Please respect copyright.PENANAxBgCnpCtxP
139Please respect copyright.PENANAszOaItBA1G
是他絕對不能丟失的重要之物。139Please respect copyright.PENANAPcz3V30i9g
139Please respect copyright.PENANANwZlArfCsh
「嘿!你們知道我是怎麼死的嗎?」渡鴉的聲音自鐵櫃另一側傳來,他揮舞著一張泛黃的羊皮紙,調侃的笑語彷彿紙上所述文字與自己無關,「居然有我的死亡證明!全身多處凍傷、撕裂傷,死得可真狼狽!」139Please respect copyright.PENANApd77E9Es8V
139Please respect copyright.PENANACiT0uySnoT
「而且我還欠錢!」半精靈哭笑不得地拎起第二張紙卷,「也太悲慘了吧!」139Please respect copyright.PENANALwtWThD4BO
139Please respect copyright.PENANAHr7jIC39tR
叮叮。139Please respect copyright.PENANA2458QwBICw
139Please respect copyright.PENANAB4sUsBeMnR
祕術師搖晃著錫製的小巧鈴鐺,清脆的鈴響迴盪於保管室內,她若有所思地凝視以鍊條串起的物件,電流的火花於眼眶內的晶體流動,內部系統再次運轉,但終究是徒勞無果,警示音頻頻作響,代表失效的信號阻斷探尋的深究,她沉默無語地戴上了鈴鐺項鍊,被迫暫時放棄。139Please respect copyright.PENANAWjKGsxzVF6
139Please respect copyright.PENANAEx8jazeuiw
「喔?這鈴鐺很適合妳喔!」渡鴉笑道,反手將架上取得的黑色外袍揮至後背,雙臂俐落地套進衣袖。139Please respect copyright.PENANAS0aNSJMEyH
139Please respect copyright.PENANAD7ORmPJtTK
沒有理會半精靈的話語,戰俑逕自走出保管室,率先探查外側通道的動靜。139Please respect copyright.PENANAOzwk86tR7c
139Please respect copyright.PENANAqnECzIElnU
「猛烈智慧慾望妓院集點卡?」引路者嫌惡地驚聲怪叫,把色彩粉嫩的紙卡塞進渡鴉的長袍口袋,「誰會去妓院啊?這是你的東西吧!」139Please respect copyright.PENANAjmAUqjNrCF
139Please respect copyright.PENANA4oJkBrRwHr
「最愛去的人明明就是你!你不是之前才說小梅在等你?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAulB04al08q
139Please respect copyright.PENANAZcWJ9zWX3z
「不是你在酒醉時和我說,小梅把你甩掉了嗎?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAxE1zzLOkEi
139Please respect copyright.PENANAT6kRQZo8vc
分明是胡言亂語——裁決官暗自腹誹,確保盔甲穿戴妥當後,不死者注視著櫃內深處的銀色長劍與盾牌,遲疑片刻後仍是取出並繫上自己的腰間。他走向吵鬧的二人,高大的身軀強行介入,揚手展示與自己的裝備一同收納的紙張。139Please respect copyright.PENANAgyRQ1DTR6n
139Please respect copyright.PENANAp9WiUMa3X0
「札達拉的三批貨目前都在聯盟手中,酬金已全數到位。」吸血鬼冷聲轉述羊皮紙的內容,毫不意外地在引路者與渡鴉的表情讀出不解和迷茫,「這也許是我們來到這裡前執行的最後一件事。」139Please respect copyright.PENANAHOxPhKwwnL
139Please respect copyright.PENANAq6qrJJUGPa
「目前看起來,我們至少有兩個線索。」打理好衣裝的白髮精靈走近三人,拾起引路者與渡鴉爭吵時掉落的紙卡,交還給人類青年,「起碼妓院裡可能會有認識你的人?」139Please respect copyright.PENANAEuw32VV2oj
139Please respect copyright.PENANAmddAt3igR1
「這樣說來,我欠錢的酒館應該也有認得我的人吧?」139Please respect copyright.PENANA5QrlbfMIRs
139Please respect copyright.PENANAet61vQDat9
「總而言之,尋找出路才是當務之急。」139Please respect copyright.PENANA6zlt2ZqLbx
139Please respect copyright.PENANAJ22IdNwmNQ
「遇到灰燼使者怎麼辦?」引路者蜷縮起身子,緊擁著適才尋回的機械頭殼,小心翼翼地護在胸口,那是被他視作兄弟的構裝體零件。139Please respect copyright.PENANADdnVQ7eh2X
139Please respect copyright.PENANAY1CUCR8OfE
裁決官撫上劍柄,猩紅之眸浸染暴戾與傲慢,「遇到攔阻者,斬殺便可。」139Please respect copyright.PENANA5mjQkxhea9
139Please respect copyright.PENANAKttjhVzGOF
沒錯,不過是重複日常的殺戮,僅此而已——「領主」的目光直視廊道彼端,泰然自若地邁步向前。139Please respect copyright.PENANALm5PPIfreH
139Please respect copyright.PENANATZOfZvQkJK
掐熄生命的火苗向來簡單,一如消滅那些前仆後繼、義無反顧的冒險者們。手起,鎖定頸脖,刀落,斬下頭顱,鮮血灑濺。凡人的有限與不死的無限,後者掌握了至高的優勢,只要意志不滅,他的存續便是永恆,無論前路有何障礙,他都不會停下腳步。139Please respect copyright.PENANAf8xuN2P18N
139Please respect copyright.PENANAN5lk0WM5n8
吸血鬼相信,那份契約依舊維繫著效用,因為自己仍然立足於此,這是無庸置疑的證明。139Please respect copyright.PENANA7wmzzq7nDt
139Please respect copyright.PENANAAOvZ5JZQpJ
只是,不死者忽略了一件事。強大的實力不僅能打磨無所畏懼的自信,亦會造就傲慢與輕率,猶如硬幣正反的一體兩面——當他踏入連接另一個區域的管道,聽見機關觸動的碰撞聲與引路者遲來的警告時,已然閃避不及。139Please respect copyright.PENANAqD6nq9xTQg
139Please respect copyright.PENANASVm7mPdDYM
炙熱的強風席捲而來,熾烈的火焰吞噬了一切。意識被切斷前,裁決官的視野暈染一片混合著粉與紫的詭譎光彩,而後是徹底的黑暗。
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命運之輪的轉動
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命運之輪的轉動
Author:
冰藍
ISSUE #3
第一章-「領主」
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