法印城,萬門之城,擁有通往無數多元宇宙的傳送門,隔絕於主物質位面的外層之處,一旦進入便難以輕易離開,於是人們賦予了這座城市另一個別稱——「籠子」。60Please respect copyright.PENANA3omh8phcWf
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他們從亡者的太平間逃入了囚困生者的巨大牢籠。60Please respect copyright.PENANAbDLigzydDY
60Please respect copyright.PENANAxwLXaiORkx
急促的腳步濺起片片水花,奔走的黑影穿梭在蜿蜒的巷弄,四周逐漸安靜,嘈雜的嘶喊隱沒於潮濕的霧氣,僅剩滴滴水珠落入泥坑的細響,確認再無追趕的威脅,眾人終於得以喘息,平復紊亂的心跳,治療負傷的身體,並查看他們慌不擇路下抵達的場所。放眼望去,破敗的房屋林立,髒亂穢物與暗綠苔蘚爬滿石造的路面與高牆,生物腐爛的惡臭附著於灰濛的空氣,隨著吹盪的冷風散至四面八方,不同於方才逃離的街區,此處的潦倒與汙濁不僅滿佈地表,甚至綿延到天空。60Please respect copyright.PENANAeIoO8Hw5dh
60Please respect copyright.PENANA8ujOlMZLtW
掀開仍然淌水的垂掛破布,亞瑟從狹窄的巷口跨入寬闊道路,來到人流密集的廣場。牆角躺臥的浪人、路上蹣跚的行者,他們各個衣衫襤褸、神色陰鬱,諸多不屬於一般類人種族的面孔混雜於人群之中,販售食物的惡魔與顧客爭執著金錢的多寡,群聚的食人魔粗暴地推撞彼此,怒吼著鮮少聽聞的語言。60Please respect copyright.PENANAyo6sphCxJU
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這裡是法印城的巢穴區,最貧困、也是治安最惡劣的地方。60Please respect copyright.PENANAReOHeh6wQO
60Please respect copyright.PENANAJArDGEybNu
「收你不要的屍體,哪裡還有死鬼?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAwfXwym20KJ
60Please respect copyright.PENANAjd072IO3VY
一名長鬍子的矮人運著載滿遺體的手推車高聲吆喝,老舊的木輪駛過凹凸不平的石磚,堆疊的軀體毫無防護地搖晃、碰撞,好似這些喪失性命的人們僅是微不足道的回收品,等待被銷毀的廢棄之物。60Please respect copyright.PENANAcYG5H1MTMt
60Please respect copyright.PENANAM0gJsrzYDj
視線順著收屍者的背影向遠處移轉,阿斯莫環顧周遭街景,試圖與腦內的記憶相互對照,此區與他印象中的城市相差甚遠——光鮮亮麗的繁華市井,熙來攘往的人們穿戴著體面的服裝與飾品,通明的燈火直至深夜亦不會熄滅——當他作為軍團代表拜會法印城的位能協會時,所見所聞皆是熱鬧興盛的景象,而非如此烏煙瘴氣之地。60Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1K062SCIF
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他確信自己未曾走訪市集區以外的地段。事實上,若非協會之人的引導與軍團法師的幫助,他絕無可能獨自來到法印城,更遑論隨意穿行各區的傳送門,即便擁有偵測能力,但面對數以萬計的傳送門,這項技能仍遠遠不足。然而,在他們突破重圍、自灰燼使者的據點逃脫後,破碎的回憶一度占據了思緒,與其餘四人活動於城內各處的畫面一一湧現,又在他想捕捉細節時快速溜走。60Please respect copyright.PENANAEcumwZkCmv
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他無法肯定這些經歷是否真實存在,抑或來自那位同樣被稱作裁決官的吸血鬼。60Please respect copyright.PENANASWm8exvZeN
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「嘿!走路不長眼嗎?」一道尖細的喝斥應聲打斷亞瑟的沉思,隨後是紙張書卷嘩啦入水的哀號,一名瘦小的提夫林氣急敗壞地破口大罵,「我的天啊!妳這個皮革腦袋!從哪邊來的滾到哪邊去好不好!小心我把妳的名字寫到死者名冊裡!」60Please respect copyright.PENANA42oRWo0yia
60Please respect copyright.PENANAPvMDQakaNp
紫皮膚的手指惡狠狠戳向與自己相撞的白髮精靈,觀察者沒有計較對方的辱罵與無禮,沉默不語地蹲低身子撿拾掉落的物品。60Please respect copyright.PENANAjTEo9egHBu
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「不好意思,是我不該突然停在路口,阻礙了通行。」阿斯莫連忙致歉,一同協助精靈收拾善後。60Please respect copyright.PENANAWTys9t34t8
60Please respect copyright.PENANAxYcH0aRrZV
見二人態度友善,提夫林瞇起雙眼,甩動細長的尾巴捲起文件,手尾並用地趁汙水徹底暈染墨字前盡力搶救。雖暫時緩和了怒火,可抱怨的碎語依然盛氣凌人,「一看就不知道哪裡來的呆頭鵝,渾身乾乾淨淨的!」60Please respect copyright.PENANAVVFr7yOYxV
60Please respect copyright.PENANA1OZCa9N7qU
「請問,焦屍酒吧,該怎麼走?」戰俑機械式的聲音響起,探問渡鴉欠款單據上所屬的店名。60Please respect copyright.PENANA7HeX2QVSXT
60Please respect copyright.PENANAXibnbIE2hC
「哼,果然是外地人!」提夫林冷眼斜睨祕術師,接過亞瑟和觀察者整理好的紙卷,清點完畢後撇開嘴角,「看在你們還算有禮貌的份上,我知道一個挺便宜的嚮導,介紹給你們吧。」60Please respect copyright.PENANA1CiJKErGlL
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「我們該去哪裡尋找?」戰俑啟動資料搜索的系統,詳細追問,「請問特徵?如何辨識?」60Please respect copyright.PENANA1on3x3YWUm
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提夫林大笑出聲,「差點忘了,你們這些外來者不會搞清楚嚮導都長什麼樣,妳看過人馬沒有?找人馬就對了!」他指向不遠處的轉角,「去那裡吧,她通常都在那裡等著接客。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAF1BL6baP5V
60Please respect copyright.PENANANtKyuqAODg
將成堆的書卷攬至胸前,提夫林騰出右臂,握住觀察者的手表達謝意,「我叫雷茲,要是你們有什麼需要⋯⋯你知道的,偽造文書的需求,我在門屋夜市擺攤,隨時歡迎!」他毫不避諱地說道,眼窩彎成月牙的愉悅形狀,揮了揮手,轉身離去。60Please respect copyright.PENANAeqGybDVlrU
60Please respect copyright.PENANAm39cwxSHHc
朝著雷茲指引的方向,眾人在窄巷的小屋旁看見一名倚靠牆邊的女子,正無所事事地把玩一柄細長的金屬器物。其修長的腿足收攏於腹下,四足動物特有的圓弧曲線延伸至末端高翹的短尾,如山羊般的身軀披掛著鮮豔布匹與繁複的口袋,裸露的乳白色毛皮因浸潤水氣而沾染了些許塵土。60Please respect copyright.PENANAxJZx2sUokV
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巴里亞人?在巢穴區?60Please respect copyright.PENANAGP2ZslLG1L
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阿斯莫感到一絲困惑,眼前的女性並非提夫林所指的人馬,以人羊代稱也許更符合她的樣貌。在亞瑟的認知中,此等神聖的天界生物源自上層位面,與神和天使共居相同階層,喜愛奔馳於遼闊的原野,如今卻出現在法印城內最落魄的街區,這般落差著實令他倍覺訝異。60Please respect copyright.PENANAINNHFI8Nbn
60Please respect copyright.PENANAEkkJioiXJB
「嗨,你們是要找嚮導嗎?」留意到眾人注目的視線,女子一把抓住拋擲的玩物,笑逐顏開的古銅色臉龐透出紅潤的健康光澤。60Please respect copyright.PENANAzD0wreYBfU
60Please respect copyright.PENANA9KuSBc2XcE
「是的,我們初來乍到此地,對這一帶不太熟悉,需要有人替我們引路。」亞瑟彎身鞠躬,謙恭有禮地致上問候。60Please respect copyright.PENANAhOcYJqOPpy
60Please respect copyright.PENANAcZnFR43c3Q
「謝天謝地!太好了,你們找對人了!告訴你們,這個巢穴區非常危險又難走,我恰好閒著沒事,今天還沒有接單呢!你們想去哪裡?」女子起身抖擻著羊蹄,踏著欣喜的步伐走近為首的阿斯莫,各式花俏的金屬綴飾在擺盪中敲出清脆的響聲,「忘了自我介紹,你們可以叫我帕莉莎。」60Please respect copyright.PENANADpDSOJsphp
60Please respect copyright.PENANAOp1IRvpuPd
「帕莉莎小姐,您好。我是亞瑟﹒費萊克斯。」回握帕莉莎伸來的手掌,阿斯莫微笑答道,「我們有位夥伴想去焦屍酒吧。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAahkGSVPeFC
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「行,很近,我很熟呢!」巴里亞人望向亞瑟身後的其他人,「所有的朋友都要同行嗎?怎麼稱呼呢?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAZdQi5eSMSg
60Please respect copyright.PENANAwFcwVinQRU
「帕莉莎姐姐,妳稱呼我為渡鴉就好了。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAm0Z02Kvmub
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「代號,祕術師。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAYEewmqyMSX
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「妳好,我是觀察者。」60Please respect copyright.PENANArlS1FpTeGf
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「叫我引路者就可以了!」60Please respect copyright.PENANA9SdnB51GQb
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盯著半精靈手中擺動的可愛玩偶,帕莉莎忍俊不禁地複述眾人報上的名字,「都像是代號一樣呢。亞瑟先生,那你呢?你也有代號嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAFYUwTwPNrb
60Please respect copyright.PENANAklAQ6RsxSL
「呃⋯⋯」阿斯莫不由得一陣遲疑,眼神閃爍不定,「有的,裁決官。」他苦笑著回應,吸血鬼領主的身影在腦海中飛逝而過。60Please respect copyright.PENANADbsKbIRoM6
60Please respect copyright.PENANA77Bm07R0RC
「那我是不是也得替自己取綽號?這樣子我們就是個團隊了。」沒有察覺亞瑟的不自在,巴里亞人挑高眉宇,纖細的指尖摩娑著下顎,興致高昂地提議。60Please respect copyright.PENANAVeqkImr8pJ
60Please respect copyright.PENANADCBT6YBm1J
「我聽說人馬是不是都很會觀星?不如就叫觀星師好了!」60Please respect copyright.PENANA7sMZ7qsTTS
60Please respect copyright.PENANA5ON18uk4KW
「為什麼呢?是因為射手座嗎?」盈盈笑意帶起兩頰的圓窩,帕莉莎順應了渡鴉的突發奇想,「聽起來挺順口的,那就叫我觀星師吧。」她眨眨眼,豎起兩指看向眾人,「先跟你們聊聊我的僱用費,一小時兩銀幣,如何?可以接受嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAW4Z4lzSh5V
60Please respect copyright.PENANAfTIg7z0N9H
「沒問題,從這裡到焦屍酒吧,需要多久時間呢?」60Please respect copyright.PENANA1eamy226rW
60Please respect copyright.PENANAykGGEuMtFT
「要是不懂路的人,徒步行走搞不好會走一小時,甚至花費大半天都找不到路。但有我在,不用五分鐘就能到達。」女子自信地仰首,「由於種族的天賦,我能夠看到傳送門,也可以看到他們通往的地方。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAkmlxgFnTD9
60Please respect copyright.PENANA3YPFYQbvSz
語畢,巴里亞人收斂玩笑的神情,在樓房間的小道四處梭巡,空靈的眼瞳泛起光暈,於灰暗中擴散如星雲般的斑斕色澤。她壓低身姿輕輕嗅聞浮動的氣流,向某個未知目標前進,招手示意眾人緊隨其後。60Please respect copyright.PENANA8NSQENj4V5
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啪啦!60Please respect copyright.PENANAYX7KvgRDJP
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一聲巨響,帕莉莎強健的羊腿猛地踢散遊民殘留的火堆,從餘燼裡取出堪用的木炭,逕自在一處牆面寫下似圖畫的文字。60Please respect copyright.PENANAY19pF4zRBu
60Please respect copyright.PENANA2FfzbOlPAE
「觀星師姐姐,這是在留下什麼記號嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAu5QVGKWWzY
60Please respect copyright.PENANApzMWtTWB0p
「是開啟傳送門的密語吧?每扇門有各自的啟動方式。」亞瑟代替女子回答了渡鴉的不解,語帶讚嘆的同時,也不忘牢牢記住現處的位置與符文指令。60Please respect copyright.PENANApWdZq97AQ4
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「順順也要畫!」60Please respect copyright.PENANA8hKXR6c4Uf
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「亞瑟先生很懂呢。」行雲流水地完成數行文句,巴里亞人回首莞爾一笑,將木炭遞給引路者,「最後一筆就交給你來畫吧。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAL9iXMzpDzu
60Please respect copyright.PENANAsOlXACLEfB
半精靈雀躍地拿起炭筆,將其貼上藍色人偶的手,模仿著孩子與玩偶共同塗鴉的純真稚態,於密語的句末繪製了一朵可愛童趣的小花,當筆端離開牆面的剎那,一束紅光綻放,花朵彷彿被灌注生命,盛開出燦亮的火苗。赤紅的花瓣依序點燃一個又一個字符,延燒的光燄在石灰的壁面劃開一圈完美的正圓,下一刻,歡鬧的喧嘩自圓內迸出,一股熾烈的熱氣撲面而來,橘黃的火團下,眾多相異種族的男男女女分別圍坐在散布各處的鑄鐵圓桌,高舉酒杯開懷暢飲。60Please respect copyright.PENANACB3PMADdMe
60Please respect copyright.PENANASkzWbjhVd6
「歡迎光臨焦屍酒吧,顧客們優先。」帕莉莎優雅地屈膝低首,邀請眾人踏入魔法之門。60Please respect copyright.PENANAXGGYZBpBdY
60Please respect copyright.PENANAHWlYT6Q3Lk
「傳送門竟是如此簡單嗎?」渡鴉忍不住嘖嘖稱奇。60Please respect copyright.PENANAaDr8F426Cn
60Please respect copyright.PENANARMgtdxAW1z
「話不能這麼說,這是因為你們的嚮導很專業。」她搖了搖食指,爽快地接受半精靈的讚美,「傳送門只能維持短短幾分鐘,趕快進去吧。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAOjo02GRqg5
60Please respect copyright.PENANAQFdj1yLVXs
亞瑟習慣性地禮讓他者,待所有人跨越傳送門,才與女子先後入內,「帕莉莎小姐,妳知道通往市集區的傳送門在哪裡嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANACijHQL4EjV
60Please respect copyright.PENANAUM7ARVH3Bc
「想去哪裡,只要在法印城裡面我都知道。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAPp02VZyv4n
60Please respect copyright.PENANAfV2WmEawXI
「太好了,雖然我曾來過這座城市,但對其它區域完全不熟悉。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAm4EMDrlZB7
60Please respect copyright.PENANAzY8pjRoNQc
「沒事,你們已經僱傭我了,在時間內,你們想去哪我都奉陪。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAH8HyjztGAb
60Please respect copyright.PENANAgopnPJqrRq
確保與軍團聯繫的管道無虞後,阿斯莫長吁一口氣,稍稍紓解了壓抑許久的緊繃情緒,期待著與位能協會的法師們會面後,所有的疑問皆能獲得解答。他追上了先行入內的渡鴉等人,蒸騰的水霧氤氳於石與鐵鑄造的酒館,內部充斥著烈酒融合金屬灼燒的特殊氣味,將酒客們的熱情烘托得更為高漲。60Please respect copyright.PENANAMxiMKbbnQk
60Please respect copyright.PENANAfH0VxacJbx
渡鴉的好奇心被引走,他沒有尋找身為債主的酒吧老闆,反而先往中央的火球靠近,亞瑟的視線越過半精靈與諸位客人,直落在被火舌纏繞的焦黑人影,枯瘦的形體懸浮於半空不斷旋轉,氣若游絲的哀鳴溢滿痛苦,與人們置若罔聞的談笑形成強烈對比。60Please respect copyright.PENANAyMzz14bSHa
60Please respect copyright.PENANAuIVWdurnRI
阿斯莫的眼底掠過一抹駭然,難以置信的驚訝脫口而出,「帕莉莎小姐,這樣的狀態是正常的嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAQmFiAooH17
60Please respect copyright.PENANAQo1qLhGqtT
「小心,你們的頭髮會燒焦的。」巴里亞人抬起手臂,提醒眾人保持安全距離,「老實說,自從我來到法印城,就沒看過他不是以這個狀態存在的模樣,我甚至不確定他活了多久,但我知道他的名字,叫伊格努斯。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAsiObWWOzS0
60Please respect copyright.PENANASQOxatDdxf
「他是受到懲罰嗎?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAhfV1jmWTzt
60Please respect copyright.PENANAot06ekaoZe
「據說他曾經犯下嚴重的大罪,因此被烈火囚禁。」女子的瞳孔再次閃動流光,辨識著男人周身的魔法能量,「他的身體現在就是一道傳送門,很有意思,對吧?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAxdnuGgbTqE
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「透過這個傳送門會去到哪裡?」渡鴉問道。60Please respect copyright.PENANAYG6KWxupQD
60Please respect copyright.PENANAQ70MfKLwSG
「一個非常火熱的地方,相信我,你們不會想去的。」60Please respect copyright.PENANABNGkyO7rWq
60Please respect copyright.PENANAHWuANOd5ys
兩眼左右游移,半精靈心虛地瞄向忙碌於吧檯內的壯碩巨漢,男人金屬的義肢正穩穩抓握一根巨型象牙,一面細心擦拭,一面與祕術師談話,「萬一在酒吧做了不該做的事情,是不是也會變得像伊格努斯這樣?例如⋯⋯欠錢沒還之類的?」60Please respect copyright.PENANAo1KvcKqLOi
60Please respect copyright.PENANAeJdQ8CIKPQ
「這我就不知道了。」帕莉莎聳聳肩,「不過欠錢只是尋常小事,巴奇斯老闆非常友善,總是樂意為所有來客提供酒水,只要相當便宜的價格,就可以換來一頓好眠,即使客人沒有錢,留下抵押品也行。他的倉庫堆滿許多財物,大多數都已經沒人來贖了。」60Please respect copyright.PENANAqjxMbpywvG
60Please respect copyright.PENANA5kEMprtxmd
「莫非我是喝酒欠債嗎?我怎麼不記得了!」60Please respect copyright.PENANAXKRrZxOOe4
60Please respect copyright.PENANA6wP8i5ewRp
「既然持有那張借據,不如先去問問老闆?」觀察者雙手環抱胸口,催促著捂頭吶喊的半精靈。60Please respect copyright.PENANArEV4CMpNvW
60Please respect copyright.PENANA3whuRfFDNp
渡鴉被推向吧檯時,祕術師正巧結束對話,她效仿著人類的舉止向巴奇斯行禮道謝,動作僵硬遲緩,半精靈豪放地摟住戰俑的臂膀,掏出口袋裡被揉皺的單據攤平至桌面,「嘿,老闆,我是不是有東西抵押在這裡啊?」60Please respect copyright.PENANABgZOP20OZK
60Please respect copyright.PENANA0ndPIdmRUn
放下象牙,男人若有所思地審視聚集在面前的人們,頓時靈光一閃,「是了,我想起來了!沒錯,你的東西我還留著。」取代右手的人工夾具快速開閉,他咧開大嘴露出一口黃牙,「難怪覺得面熟!有一個魔冢小子在找你們,你們認識嗎?」他比劃輪廓與大小,描述著該生物的機械外觀。60Please respect copyright.PENANA2in1wDO1ka
60Please respect copyright.PENANABICUDMSxAa
「不認識,所以我不是第一次來這裡嗎?」渡鴉茫然地睜大眼睛。60Please respect copyright.PENANAqjeZv055Bh
60Please respect copyright.PENANAD9jur3j55R
「嗯⋯⋯看來那個機器人沒說錯,你們的確病得不輕啊。」巴奇斯略帶憐憫地搖首,「希望那群無望會的人願意幫你們處理這天殺的不知道什麼問題。」60Please respect copyright.PENANA2Rppg4CKdM
60Please respect copyright.PENANAveq3gqvOSv
祕術師點頭,矮身擺脫渡鴉過度的親暱,往後退去一步,雙掌貼合腿側,回報任務似地逐字強調,「後備計畫,門屋,無望會。」60Please respect copyright.PENANA5fHUKn2RER
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命運之輪的轉動
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命運之輪的轉動
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冰藍
ISSUE #5
第三章-法印城
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