Reaching the flat top and the end of the path, Ethan was relieved he has made it up her and it was time to climb up to the cave opening up high in the Mountain. But before doing so, he would rather take a rest to replenish his earlier lost energy, as such he would climb the Mountain with the hope of reaching the top not feeling too much tired.
He sat on the ground looking up at the walls of the Mountain. He was already planning a safe path of ascension. Looking at the places he would grab easily and get enough balance, the places he could easily use to push himself up, the places he could use to take a rest while climbing. It was going to be very hard, he wasn't an alpinist and he has never climbed a Mountain before. Though the Mountain wasn't that steep, the walls had green slippery mosses that would cause grave accidents if not avoided.
He had no adequate tool for the ascension so he would use his hands and feet only, reason why he was taking a careful look at the walls of the Mountain to have a safe path of ascension to the Cave opening. After taking about thirty minutes, looking at this obstacles upfront, he finally decided where to begin and the path he will take to safely reach the cave opening but it would still be hard with only his bare hands as tool.
Standing to his feet, Ethan was done resting. He walked toward the wall of the Mountain without hesitation, preparing for the insane ascension he was about to do. Dangerous was it but he was doing it for his sister, that was all that kept him going forward and not give up even for a second. He took a deep breath and look up the Mountain's slope then to his hand
"This is insane, am I really going to climb up this slope with only my bare hands?" Ethan asked himself, fear was felt in his voice. His hands were slightly shaking but he clenched his fist tight and look up to the obstacle
"I can and will do it. I have to, I am doing it for Licia. If I reach that cave it can lead me to the entity the old fool was talking about" Ethan said with a lot of hope and determination. Nothing was going to stop him from now. He proceeded with his ascension to the cave
Putting his left foot a rock that protruded from the slope, ensuring that it was stable, he pushed his weight up on the rock while he grabbed another rock protruding from the slope and doing same with his right feet which wasn't straight but bent, ready to push his whole weight upward using the rock. After thirty minutes of climbing, he felt his thighs' and legs' muscle pulsating but it was still bearable.
The pain which was disturbing him more was that of his broken ribs. It was hard for him to move his right hand and push himself up with it. The pain that came from the force he used was hightening every second, due to the strainous activity he was doing at the moment. Contorting his face every time he used his right hand, he was accepting the pain and wasn't going to give up as long as he hasn't got what he wanted from this Mountain.
He continued his ascension to the top following the path he planned to follow. He placed his right leg on a rock protruding from the slope, ready to push his weight upward but what happened next wasn't expected. Pushing his weight upward on the rock, the rock break and he loose balance, falling down the slope. Ethan reached immediately with his heart beating at fast pace in an instant. He tries to grab a rock with both his hands but with no success. Instead, his nails were pealed off from his fingers.
Ethan didn't feel the pain but was desperately trying to hold on to a rock, which he finally did.
"That was so close, was I really going to die just now!!" Ethan exclaimed, his heart still beating rapidly
"Damn, this was going to be my demise but thanks to my immediate reaction"
He tried hard to smile. He was able to stop his fall but the pain from his ribs were more than bearable now and he had to be fast if he wanted to live for the next hours. He continued his ascension to the cave opening immediately. After about 5hours of steady climbing, risk of falling off and stopping his fall, Ethan finally reached the cave opening. His fingers were bruised and bleeding, no nails to be found anymore. But this was the least of his trouble.
The Aura he felt was more than which he felt when at the foot of the Mountain. It seems the closer he was, the more the intensity of the aura. But this still didn't stop him at all. The cave was dark and cold, Ethan couldn't see anything at all. Since there was no way for him to bring his bag up with him, he just took the kettle he came along with. Dragging out a piece of thread from the kettle opening, he picked two stones on the ground, which he hit hard creating a spark close to the thread which lit up.
He could see now fairly well, so he went forward, not even afraid of the sinister aura he was feeling. His body was like reluctant to venture deeper in this cave but Ethan just pushed forward, ignoring the wearing feeling all over his body. Walking for three hours now, no sing of life at all, not even a ghost was seen. The only thing he saw were bats, bats and only bats all the way in here. As he went deeper in the cave, Ethan felt the aura was increasing more and more, though it was feeling dark and devilish, he kept on moving.
It was then that he reached the depth where the aura felt like it was originating from it, he met a large door. Not only was the door frightful but he knew behind this door was something terrifying, something he has never seen before. The feeling, the pressure, his senses on alert and his hairs erecting from the aura fluctuating from other side of the door.
"What is this feeling? What is behind this door? Was the old fool saying the truth" Ethan said, his whole body shivering, shivers was sent down his spine every five seconds
"I have to be frank, if I want to save Licia I have to pass through this door"
Saying so, Ethan mustered his courage, clenched his fists and placed his hand on the door. Feeling the cold metal from the tips of his fingers. Taking a deep breath, Ethan pushed the door opened.