Tier would be lying if he didn’t feel even the slightest desire to dive into fighting the boars. Thus, he felt a bit of disappointment when Bingo’s directions were not about going into the fight, but to reach the location of the class trainers while avoiding the whole commotion caused by the boars, NPCs, and Raz’chak. Though it was also rather irritating for Tier since the class trainers were jumping into the fray as well.

On a side note, Raz’chak was such a beast, both literally and figuratively. The gorilla pummelled the boars in haste before they could create further chaos.

While watching his companion beast with pride, Bingo explained to the two confused newbies, “Other than not dying more than five times along your levelling journey, one of the requirements to be eligible for Clashing Realms is to reach level 80 without being directly helped in levelling by high levelled players.”

“Only for levelling?” Tier asked.

Bingo nodded, then his visage turned serious. “There are griefers who attack lower level players, especially those who are aiming to go to Clashing Realms.”

“So you’re not just recruiting, but also patrolling?”

“I’ll be honest, Tier,” Bingo chuckled. “Going full braindead DPS would be such a waste for that sharp mind.”

“I don’t want it anyway.”

Bingo laughed at Tier’s response while Zack patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Going off meta and being creative is always fun, buddy,” said the warrior with brimming positivity.

Tier snorted, there was a slight twitch in his heart when this subject was being discussed. “The fun stops when other players accuse you of being useless and downright spitting at your builds.”

“They say, you can’t expect everyone to have the same opinion.” Bingo shrugged with a sly smile. “I’m not condoning any hostile acts, but asking for everyone to agree with something off meta would be in the same spirit of scoffing at anything off meta.”

Zack nodded in agreement. “That would be a paradox in a sense, see ya soon,” he said as he waved his hand and walked towards his trainer who had just finished dealing with the boars.

“Just play how you see fit, remember that you’re still going to have custom abilities aside from paths,” Bingo assured once more before he left Tier and fed a guava to Raz’chak.

Tier stood motionless for a moment. He sighed several times to let out the heaviness held in his chest due to the recent topic of discussion. He wondered if he could be more useful to his friends as a pure DPS or going the way he felt fitting.

Would they scorn him if he chose a path they didn’t think was the best?

Perhaps you could see it after you try.

Eggi’s words rang in Tier's ears, accompanying his steps approaching Bur’ru. As usual, the hunter trainer greeted him with his ever joyful and laid back attitude.

“My friend, this be the time you learn of your paths. Many might say there be some path that be the absolute best, but I be saying you be deciding what be the best for you.”

Bur’ru then took some dust from his pouch and continued, “Words will not be helping much for you to see… to feel the path. Ril’Dil be helpful giving me this.”

Without further warning, Bur’ru threw the dust at Tier, causing the latter to gradually lose his vision and senses of immediate surroundings. 

“Beastmasters be the best among us in taming the beasts in this world. They knew how to unlock the power within those wild animals. Yet, they also be embracing the savagery inside. The beast outside and within affects each other, they care for each other...”

Bur’ru’s voice rang in Tier’s ear, accompanying a vision of an orcish hunter who fought with a powerful dire wolf on his side. Both struck with brutal efficiency and covered each other’s back. 

“...ah, Hawkeye… the path of a true marksman. With focus and eyes as sharp as a hawk, they be unleashing precise strikes from afar. Their targets be lying dead before they be reaching the marksman...”

Tier was not interested in the currently shown images of rakhs shooting arrows from afar. For him, it was the typical pure ranged DPS style which is common for typical ranger, archer, or hunter classes. Shoot and kite a bit, that was all there is to it.

“... Mimicry, my friend, be one of the core abilities we had as hunters. We be copying those aspects the animals have and use it to our advantage. Those be walking this path be willingly let themselves dive into the maddened bloodlust of primal savagery. Far or near be not the problem of such fighter...”

The next vision was about another orc hunter who swiftly changed her mimic according to the situation. The ever changing silhouettes of animals empowered her and her wolf in many ways, not to mention it also inspired her team. Tier could clearly see how this type of hunter didn’t even falter when an opponent came close nor when bloodlust consumed her.

“... and remember, a hunter be not about killing but surviving no matter how dire the world is. You be thrilled by the hunt, yet be not tempted by the bloodlust within. You be calm yet quick, you be crafty and resourceful, you be in harmony with your surroundings, you be learning the best way the wild adapts. Such be the path of Predator’s Tactics...”

The last specialisation demonstration caught Tier’s attention. It was a similar vibe he felt from previous visions about rakhs and a hunter. There was a rakhs hunter who fought with a rhino on his side. The two simultaneously positioned themselves so well in the middle of a big fight. Traps were laid, poisonous arrows were dispatched, interruptions were done to save an ally, and opportunities were opened for others to exploit. The hunter and his beast was effectively brutal yet seemed so calm and serene.

“... now, don’t be rushing, my friend. Take your time to feel and set your mind on which path you be wanting.”