第8章 焚烧（1/2）

一行人沉默地向北行进，那是铁木村的方向。

在更北方有座被称为『霜语峰』的巨影在灰霾中若隱若现，那是这片土地上的人们用於辨別方向的信標。

越往外走，离开能量塔核心供暖区的范围，能量塔传来的那点微弱暖意早已殆尽，寒意便愈发刺骨，冰冷仿佛要穿透衣物。

来到那“雪墙”附近，他们沿著一条被积雪半掩的陡峭坡道向上攀爬，这道环绕领地的天然雪坡如同碗壁，將寒鸦领庇护其下，也一定程度上隔绝了外界的威胁与视线。

爬至坡顶，普莱尔停下脚步，回头望去。

寒鸦领静静地臥在巨大的“雪碗”底部，那些黑色、低矮的建筑簇拥著中央唯一高耸的能量塔，在无垠的雪白中显得渺小又顽强。

而他们的目的地，铁木村，就在雪坡之外不远处一片相对平缓的谷地里。

村子规模很小，简陋的棚屋歪歪扭扭地挤在一起，围绕著一座矮小的石塔。那是村里唯一的热源，一座依靠微弱地热维持的微型锅炉，散发的热量恐怕只够勉强维持不被彻底冻僵。

与寒鸦领內围相比，这里的生存环境无疑更为严酷，他们不仅要忍受严寒，更因缺乏如寒鸦领的那样的地势庇护而时常遭受野兽袭击。

居住於此的，无一不是奴隶或是曾触怒领主之人。

普莱尔的到来让整个村子陷入一种紧张的寂静中。村民们躲著小心翼翼地窥视。

老管家阿尔文无需吩咐，立刻带人开始清点村里所剩无几的物资储备。

安德森则手按剑柄，护卫在普莱尔身侧，一名战战兢兢的中年男人小跑著迎上来，他是村里的负责人。

“领主大人……”

男人声音发颤，几乎不敢抬头。

普莱尔摆摆手，打断他无意义的敬畏：

“带我们去铁木林。”

所谓的森林，早已名不副实。

稀疏的抗寒树木间，最为显眼的是那些木质漆黑、坚硬如铁的铁木。

普莱尔伸手抚摸著一根粗糙的铁木树干，冰冷的触感透过手套传来。

这种树木是寒鸦领的命脉之一，不仅是上缴王税的重要物资，更是製作工具、武器和能在暴风雪中稳定燃烧的火把的关键材料。他腰间的佩剑，便是由优质铁木锻造而成。

然而此刻，这片宝贵的林地正被另一种生物占据。

此刻，巨大的、黏附著碎屑的蛛网掛在树木之间，被啃噬过的树木残骸隨处可见。

“噬铁蛛……”

普莱尔低声念出这个名字。他之前仔细询问过村民这种生物的习性，它们嗜食富含矿物质的植物和金属，畏惧持续高温。

为了確认，他示意一名卫兵上前，用长矛小心地触动边缘区域的一处蛛网。

沙沙声立刻响起，几只拳头大小、甲壳闪烁著黯哑金属光泽的蜘蛛迅速从藏身处爬出，狰狞的口器开合著，发出细微的“咔噠”声。

普莱尔注意到它们的外壳不仅呈现出金属质感，甚至在移动中相互碰撞时发出清脆的鏗鏗声，显得异常坚硬。

普莱尔心中瞭然：

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“这种以金属矿物为食的生物，其甲壳的硬度恐怕难以用铁木剑刺穿。”

这种生物族群一旦扎根，常规清理极难根除，它们会不断繁殖，一旦让它们在此地扎根，整个铁木林被啃噬殆尽只是时间问题。

传统的清剿方式效率低下，风险极高，且难以根除潜伏在地下的母体。

避开这些噬铁蛛，回到聚居处。