8. Hiisi

Hiisi sat behind the green goblins on top of a small stone platform. Looking at it from further away it nearly looked majestic - and perhaps Hiisi was that for the goblins. Simpler beings often followed someone wiser, such was the law of nature. Although humanity itself had long since abandoned this mindset, but there was no use dwelling in that thought. Humans were too far gone compared to their origins anyways.

Since early on in the morning Waldina had begun hunting some nearby goblins with Kiandra. She’d managed to do some leveling up and was now where she wanted to be. Her current level was ten and she was hopeful she could reach level eleven before facing the Hiisi. Taking into account all the green goblins around the Hiisi reaching level eleven wouldn’t take much effort.

“Ready?” Waldina mouthed those words without a sound. Kiandra had assured she could help Waldina if needed, yet still stay away from unnecessary danger so she wouldn’t be in the way. Knowing she’d have help if the worst came to worst, assured Waldina and gave her extra energy for the upcoming battle. And she really hoped Kiandra wouldn’t endanger herself needlessly - after all it already took all she had just to protect herself, let alone others.

After Kiandra gave her the thumbs up, Waldina began sneaking towards the green goblins furthest away from the main group and Hiisi. Running while crouching was one of the basic ninja skills which she was quite happy with. It made her sneaking a whole lot easier. As this world seemed to determine what she could easily learn and what not due to her ninja status, making the best out of her ninja skills was the wisest decision. Right now running while crouching was one of the skills that felt like second nature to her. Even though she’d never before tried it. Obviously, she could learn anything, ninja skills just were way faster and easier to learn than anything else.

Running while crouching made it possible to move through shadows even in the middle of the day and without proper covers. In the middle of the day all extra advantages were necessary.

The first green goblins were the easiest targets. The goblins weren’t exactly smart and thus they had no real chance of anticipating Waldina’s upcoming sneak attack. And she made sure to use this information to her advantage. In the battles of real life there really weren’t rights or wrongs - the battle itself was wrong. But alas, she didn’t have the freedom - nor time - to stop to think whether actions were right or not. She couldn’t allow such luxury to herself until she’d found out more about this world and her being in here.

For the first few goblins Waldina used her shortsword. She focused on using fast and effective movements, thus saving herself from needless contacts with the goblins. After all, the faster she was done, the better. She didn’t want to waste time nor give the goblins any time to regroup and attack all together.

The green goblins were similar to humans in that they shared the same weakpoints. The purple haired ninja aimed her sword slashes towards their necks. She let one single movement cut through multiple goblins as she made a little twirl letting the sword do its job.

After the goblins fell to the ground and disappeared into thin air, she headed towards the next group of goblins. They’d already noticed her and came charging towards her angrily while swinging their wooden sticks. A cold smile rose to Waldina’s lips as she took a better grab of her sword. One by one the goblins collapsed to the ground. More and more of the goblins noticed the battle and soon almost each and every one of the goblins had their eyes on her.

That was her cue to grab a couple of shurikens from thigh belt. She jumped into the air, above the goblins, searching for the strongest goblins among them. Then she aimed her shurikens towards the strongest goblins. They fell down from the impact before Waldina’s feet even touched the ground.

She grabbed a sword with her other hand and a dagger with her other. Her fight against the green goblins nearly seemed like a dance. She twirled and leaped among the goblins letting her sword slash through her enemies. Her hands found their way from between the goblins effortlessly. Adding to that her shoes that were equipped with small daggers at the tip, she was a real lethal weapon to the goblins. Her shoe daggers made nasty work of the goblins as she occasionally kicked them with the blade pointing at them. Where her sword didn’t reach, her feet did. It really helped make fast work of the poor goblins. Cause at this point they were to be pitied.

As there were only four more goblins left Waldina felt her bracelet vibrate which meant she had finally reached the next stage. A nearly cruel smile flashed across her face as she finished the last goblins with fast movements of her sword. The energy and power the new level had given her ran hungrily through her veins. Fighting at this stage felt effortlessly easy.

Finally, she turned to look at the Hiisi who was moving towards her. The Hiisi was full of rage, which was understandable as its whole goblin army had just been ravaged. Yet that only got Waldina excited as she hoped the Hiisi would be an actual challenge to her. Although being a ninja was starting to feel like her thing and it came to her pretty naturally, she still craved for far more practice. If she’d be a ninja in this world, she’d be a good one. So good that no one could ever underestimate nor overlook ninjas again. She’d make sure of it.

Hiisi was holding a stone club in his hands. It clearly was on another stage compared to green goblins. Though visually it looked just as clumsy as its green buddies holding its precious club. Yet Waldina made a mental note to avoid taking hits from that stony club. Her slightly better than beginner’s weapons surely wouldn’t like taking a hit from that and she didn’t necessarily want to know how a stone club would feel slammed against her body. Ninjas didn’t use armor or any similar techniques so each hit received was hit straight to her skin and bones.

Waldina began the confrontation with the Hiisi via throwing one of her daggers towards the Hiisi. She didn’t put much pressure on the throw and wasn’t surprised seeing the Hiisi evade the impact by slightly sidestepping. The sidestep on the other hand was something she had been hoping for. It lowered the Hiisi’s guard and thus left her plenty of space to hit straight to its bare chest.

As Waldina’s sword went through its chest the Hiisi roared from the pain. Yet it showed no signs of falling down and Waldina’s sword kept falling deeper and deeper into its chest. At this rate it would get trapped inside. The purple haired ninja bit her lip and raised her leg right next to the blade, on the Hiisi’s chest. Moving fast she pushed aside the Hiisi and drew her sword out of that thing's chest.

The Hiisi stepped back and while balancing itself raised its stone club towards Waldina. The incoming hit was way faster than she’d anticipated and in panic she ended up evading by rolling in the ground. She somehow managed to evade the hit, but wasn’t left with any time to catch her breath.

From the roll, Waldina switched directly to squatting on one leg and resting the other against the ground. A sharp swing of her leg and the Hiisi slammed into the ground. She didn’t waste any time before slashing through it with her blade yet again.

Only after the Hiisi disappeared into the air as manadust could she finally breathe normally again.

Her bracelet vibrated again to inform her of a new level. Again. It made her smile a genuine happy smile. Facing the Hiisi had given her both more power and self-confidence. Not to mention, experience. This new young girl's ninja body began feeling like home and she really knew how to use the basic skills. Perhaps even learning new skills would become easier in the future. It made her excitement grow.

“Wooow, you were amazing, Waldina,” Kiandra’s eyes shone with admiration. The blue water fairy just couldn’t get over how Waldina looked while fighting. She had become her biggest fan in a matter of a couple of days. And she no longer detested fighting that much. Actually, she sort of wanted to be part of it. To see and experience how she’d be like fighting next Waldina.

“Haha, thanks,” Waldina grinned as she gathered the drops she’d got from both the green goblins and the Hiisi. Although she was successful in the battle and had gotten plenty of self-confidence, she was still plenty tired.

“Aight, let’s go and rest for the rest of the day,” she suggested and Kiandra was all in for it.