From the starting point, drop down to the left or to the right. At the far left, there are a Companion Upgrade and a Meat Bone. If they aren't needed, just drop down to the right. Kill the burrowing flying beast to find a Thunder Fairy (temporary infinite magic energy), but another such creature can appear later. (Killing a second burrowing flying beast won't yield a reward again.)
Go right along this lowest level. Along this bottom path, there is a Companion Upgrade. Jump up along the steep slope at the far right, and then jump onto a ledge leading back to the left, where there is an Armor Upgrade. Shortly past this point, there are a Potion and a Meat Bone. Continue to the left to find lots of broken paths that generally lead up the mountain.
Watch out for boulders that bounce down the slopes. The bird-like enemies carrying more boulders can be killed before they drop their rocks. Burrowing monsters will emerge from the ground, and small flying creatures will appear.
Use the broken paths to climb higher. At a dead end to the left, there is a Potion. On a dead end on a platform to the right, there are a Potion and a Meat Bone.
To reach the top, climb to the top left first. At the end of the top left slope, there is a Potion (on Normal only).
From this point, a few hidden items can be found by dropping down to the left, but they may not be worth the trouble. Jump off the top left slope and shoot sweeping bolts to find a 1-Up. To the lower right below this slope, there is a Companion Upgrade.
From the top left slope, go to the right to reach a wide open area.
Boss: Yardidd[edit]
Yardidd is a dragon-like beast who has many flying and projectile attacks. Of all the bosses, it has the most complex pattern. Its weak point is its head.
First, it flies off the screen and then makes a high swooping attack. Duck under it.
Next, it flies along the right and breathes several high flame streams that travel straight to the left. For now, duck to avoid these attacks.
After that, it spits fireballs that will break up into smaller fireballs that will be aimed toward Alisia, dissipating after a distance. These fireballs (including the smaller versions) can be destroyed, but not without difficulty due to their number and their speed. For an easier time, stay on the right side and shoot the fireballs as they come.
Then, when it hovers in the air and moves above Alisia, it will make multiple diving attacks. Take several steps to the left to dodge each of the diving attacks, moving back the other way afterward to regain some space. When it next flies off the screen, it will make one more diving attack. It will then leave the screen again.
Now it will repeat its pattern of attacks. However, for every other cycle, it will make a low swooping attack for the first part and breathe low flame streams for the second part. Leap up from the high platform to dodge these attacks. The other attacks remain the same.
After the Boss[edit]
After the boss dies, continue to the right. Before the next ledge, there is a Potion. Jump off to the far right to avoid falling back down to the earlier paths. While climbing these last steep slopes, watch out for falling boulders. The cave is at the top right.