(Ethan POV)
Ethan hung upside down, blood rushing to his head.
The forest went silent.
Ethan: (Did the fight end? Anyways I should try to get down from here quickly.)
Ethan: "One... Two... Three."
He pushed his body forward, arms straining as he reached for a nearby branch.
Only to miss by an inch.
He swung, again.
Missed again
On the thirteenth try, his hands finally grabbed onto the branch.
It looked like hope had been reignited on his face.
Ethan: (Finally after thirteen goddamn tries. I didn't struggle this much since I played Elden ring.)
Gritting his teeth, he quickly pulled himself up and and managed to sit onto the branch.
Ethan pulled his legs up toward him and began untying the knot.
(3 minutes later)
Ethan: (Because of the darkness I can't tell if I am any closer to untying this.)
Ethan exhaled sharply.
Ethan: "Screw this, time for the nuclear method."
He aimed towards the direction he was tied from.
Ethan: "Mana blast."
Eventually the blast fires and oblitrates the section of wood anchoring the vine. The tree cracked violently, splintering as the upper half crashed down somewhere in the forest with a thunderous boom.
Ethan could feel it, he was no longer tied to the tree.
But his ankles were still tied.
Ethan: (Wait... The mana blast let's out a faint light. I can use Mana blast with one hand and try to untie with my other.)
Ethan aimed at the ground.
Ethan: "Mana blast."
As the mana gathers, a soft glow illuminated the surroundings–just enough.
Ethan lifted up his legs, finally looking at the vine wrapped tightly arround his ankle.
Ethan: (Untying it should be simple enough.)
As he quickly began untying the knot, the skill fizzels out.
His only light source, gone.
Ethan: (Huh?? Wait why the Mana blast disappear.)
His initial confusion went away as he had to focus on the current situation.
He continued untying based on memory and feeling.
(20 seconds later)
As the vine loosened, he quickly freed his legs.
Ethan: (I am definitely not that high up. I could probably survive the fall but I am not risking that.)
Ethan took the remaining vine, tied one end around his waist and the other end around the branch.
Slowly, carefully, he made his way down the tree safely.
When his boots touched the solid ground, he untied himself.
He grabbed one of the crude wooden spears lying nearby and began moving towards the house.
He stepped inside slow and cautious.
Peeked into the living room, he saw Dylan lay sprawled– ontop of the goblin's cropse.
The spear slipped from his hand, it's noise echoed throughout the room.
Without hesitation, Ethan rushed, grabbing his brother by his shoulders and dragging him aside.
Ethan pressed his fingers to his brother's wrist.
A pulse. Weak–but steady.
Ethan: (He's alive.)
Ethan sagged with relief.
He got up, looking back at the goblin. He grabbed a spear and stabbed it in into the goblin's chest.
It's lifeless body stood still.
Ethan: (Phew. It's dead.)
Ethan opened a nearby cabinet and took out a med kit.
Ethan examined Dylan's wounds.
A broken spearhead still embedded deep in his left foot.
Another splintered spear tip lodged in his right forearm
Brushing around his abdomen.
A split lip and swelling along his jaw.
Skin shredded from both knuckles.
He opened the med kit and began carefull treatment of Dylan's wounds.
(1 hour later)
Ethan leaned on his hands, exhausted.
He had finally finished turning Dylan into a mummy.
Now all he needs is a coffin.
He slipped his arms underneath Dylan and lifted him on to his back.
The full weight settled instantly.
Ethan: (How are you this heavy?? Don't you work out every day.)
Despite the heavy burden pressing onto his back. Ethan started his perilous trek upto his room.
And then—
He saw them.
His arch–enemy... Stairs.
High and mighty. Like they are looking down on him.
Fearlessly, he climbed the first step, he felt as if the world itself was trying to stop him.
He proceeded climbing on second step,
And third.
And fourth.
Every step heavier than the previous.
And then finally fifth. Only 10 more to go.
As despair began to set in, he contemplated on giving up, but remembering all his fond memories. Like the time he kicked Dylan's ass in video games 10 time in a row, or the time he 'borrowed' 10000 yen from his wallet, or the time he broke a vase and pinned the blame on Dylan.
All these memories gave him the power to climb the sixth step, as he reached for the seven he slipped, it felt that all the goals that were within reach were farther than ever.
Ethan. desperate.
Took the help of someone that he never thought he would.
The railing.
But desperate times called for desperate measures.
He grabbed it and pulled himself up, with what he once thought was a sign of weakness.
Seventh step.
Eight step.
Ninth step.
Ethan blitzed though all the steps as he reached for the peak.
And finally the fifteenth.
Recalling on the journey he realised the true treasure was the friends he made along the way.
Ethan was refreshed as if a huge burden had been taken off his back, and it did as at some point Dylan slipped off Ethan's back.
On second thought he probably shouldn't have grabbed the railing when he was carrying someone.