As the dust settled from the fierce battle, Jamie stood triumphant over the fallen Hosepant. The chamber, once filled with the sounds of their titanic struggle, now echoed with an eerie silence. Jamie's three wolf companions, still weakened from their earlier encounter, watched their leader with a mixture of awe and respect.

Jamie's eyes, burning with the intensity of the fight, fixed upon the bizarre creature he had just vanquished. The Hosepant, a chimera with the head of a horse atop a serpentine body, lay motionless, its life essence slowly fading away. As Jamie caught his breath, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his accomplishment. This was no ordinary foe—it was a boss monster, one that had pushed him to his absolute limits.

Still riding the adrenaline high of victory, Jamie decided to engage in a bit of post-battle banter. "Not bad, mate," he quipped, addressing the fallen Hosepant, "but I won't let it end as you want, even though I don't think you're understanding what I'm conveying."

To Jamie's surprise, the Hosepant's eyes flickered open, and a gravelly voice responded, "I can understand. I simply didn't want to talk with an inferior wolf being such as you."

Taken aback by the monster's ability to communicate, Jamie couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at its arrogant tone. "Well, now that's a banger," he retorted. "Can I at least know what your species are called since I'm going to exterminate you?"

The Hosepant, despite its dire situation, managed to infuse its voice with pride. "We are called 'Hosepant,' not that you would know as you're a mere wolf. And exterminating? That's my line."

Jamie felt his irritation growing. He had always hated dealing with arrogant individuals, and this monster's attitude was really starting to grate on him. "Well, don't be like that," he said, his tone laced with disappointment. "You shouldn't underestimate your opponent, no matter what, Mr. Hosepant."

The monster's eyes narrowed, its voice taking on a threatening edge. "We'll see about that. Let's see how long you can boast being a mere leader wolf."

That was the last straw for Jamie. He had taken this threat personally, and now he was ready to break every bone in the monster's body—if it had any left. He turned to his three wolf companions, who were struggling to their feet, eager to join the fight. But Jamie held up a paw, signaling them to stay put. "Watch me in action," he growled, his eyes never leaving the Hosepant.

The wolves, trusting in their leader's judgment, settled back down. They raised their muzzles to the ceiling and let out a collective howl, a chorus of support and good luck for Jamie's impending battle.

Jamie had already formulated a plan in his mind. He would defeat this Hosepant in three simple steps, showcasing the full extent of his newfound abilities as a Wolf Lord.

Step one: psychological warfare. Jamie decided to try and goad the Hosepant into losing its cool. "You know, there's one thing I can't understand," he began, his tone mockingly curious. "If half of your body is snake-like, then how do you poop? By using your mouth?"

The Hosepant's eyes flashed with rage, but it managed to keep its composure. "You want to die that badly?" it hissed. "You could've just said so. I'd be happy to make your wish come true."

Jamie's plan had been to push the monster into a berserk state, hoping it would attack mindlessly and leave itself open. But the Hosepant was cleverer than he had anticipated. It didn't take the bait, forcing Jamie to move on to his second tactic.

Focusing his energy, Jamie unleashed his Dark Howl skill once again. The sound reverberated through the chamber, a haunting melody of power and dominance. But to his frustration, the Hosepant remained unaffected.

"Are you stupid?" the monster taunted. "The skills you have don't affect me. Yet why do you insist on using them?"

Jamie felt his patience wearing thin. "Well, I don't think you're my mom," he snarled, "so shut the fuck up and get ready to face my wrath!"

The battle began in earnest as the Hosepant lashed out with its unique skill, Serpent Tail. The appendage whipped through the air with lightning speed, aiming to knock Jamie off his feet. But the Wolf Lord was ready. He dodged the attack with practiced agility, then seized the opportunity to clamp his jaws around the Hosepant's tail.

What followed was a brutal test of endurance. The Hosepant thrashed wildly, smashing Jamie against the chamber walls in an attempt to dislodge him. Pain exploded through Jamie's body with each impact, but he refused to let go. His teeth sank deeper into the scaly flesh, drawing blood and eliciting screams of agony from the monster.

The air filled with the metallic scent of blood as Jamie's relentless assault continued. His teeth, now stained crimson, kept increasing their pressure on the Hosepant's tail. The monster's movements became more frantic, more desperate, as it realized the severity of its situation.

Stolen novel; please report.

In a moment of triumph, Jamie felt the tail give way. With a sickening tear, he ripped it clean off, leaving the Hosepant writhing in agony. Blood gushed from the wound, and the monster's screams reached a fever pitch.

This was the moment Jamie had been waiting for. Driven by pain and fury, the Hosepant began to attack aimlessly, just as Jamie had hoped it would in the beginning. Now was the time for his final, decisive move.

Jamie recalled a saying he had once heard: "It's not your enemy who you are fighting; you're fighting to destroy the weakness in you." With this thought steeling his resolve, he lunged for the Hosepant's head, jaws open wide.

His teeth found purchase on the monster's neck, and Jamie bit down with all his might. The Hosepant thrashed wildly, trying to shake him off, but Jamie held firm. He could feel the creature's pulse hammering against his tongue, could taste its fear and desperation.

In a last-ditch effort to save itself, the Hosepant began to charge towards Jamie's three wolf companions. The wounded wolves lay helpless, unable to defend themselves against the rampaging monster. Jamie felt a surge of protective fury. He had brought these wolves with him, had fought alongside them. He wouldn't let them fall now.

Digging deep into his reserves of strength, Jamie increased the pressure of his bite. His teeth sank deeper, cutting through scales, flesh, and sinew. The Hosepant's movements became more erratic, more panicked. It bashed itself against the walls, trying to dislodge Jamie, but the Wolf Lord refused to let go.

Jamie could see his companions now, lying still and trusting, even in the face of approaching danger. Their faith in him as their pack leader fueled his determination. With one final, Herculean effort, Jamie clenched his jaws and twisted.

There was a sickening crack, and suddenly, the Hosepant's head came free in Jamie's mouth. The decapitated body stumbled a few more steps before collapsing, twitching in its death throes. Jamie spat out the head, watching as it rolled to a stop at the feet of his astonished pack mates.

As the last vestiges of life faded from the Hosepant's eyes, a series of system messages appeared before Jamie:

[Congratulations]

[You leveled up]

[You defeated the Hosepant low tier boss]

[Skill gained - 2]

[Ruthless] and [Mega Bite]

Jamie felt a surge of power coursing through his body as he absorbed the fruits of his victory. But the rewards weren't limited to him alone. His three wolf companions, despite their weakened state, had also gained experience from the battle. They too leveled up, their bodies glowing softly as they grew stronger.

As Jamie basked in the afterglow of his triumph, he noticed a strange, shimmering substance materializing before him. It was the blood of the Hosepant, offered as a drop item from the defeated boss. Without hesitation, Jamie lapped up the mystical fluid.

The effect was immediate and intense. Jamie felt a rush of foreign power flooding his system, granting him abilities he had never possessed before. He had gained the existing skills of the Hosepant, a prize for his hard-fought victory.

But even as Jamie reveled in his new powers, another system message appeared:

[System]

[Would you trade the Hosepant skills for Wolf Whisperer?]

[Yes] or [No]

Jamie paused, considering the offer carefully. He looked at his three wolf companions, still recovering from the battle. They had fought bravely, had trusted him implicitly as their leader. But Jamie knew that leadership was about more than just strength. It was about understanding, about forging bonds that went beyond mere obedience.

There was no guarantee that these wolves wouldn't revolt in the future, especially as they grew stronger. To truly lead them, to keep them loyal, Jamie needed to understand their desires and wishes. He needed to hear their voices, to know their hearts.

With this thought in mind, Jamie selected the [Yes] option.

As soon as he made his choice, Jamie felt a new awareness bloom in his mind. Suddenly, the soft whines and growls of his companions took on new meaning. He could understand them as clearly as if they were speaking his language.

Eager to test his new ability, Jamie focused on his pack mates. To his surprise and gratification, he found them engrossed in animated conversation... about him.

"Did you see how he fought?" one wolf was saying, awe evident in its voice. "He never let go, even when that monster was smashing him against the walls!"

"I've never seen such bravery," another chimed in. "To risk his life like that, for us..."

"We couldn't have asked for a better pack leader," the third concluded solemnly.

Jamie felt a warmth spread through his chest at their words. He had proven himself not just as a warrior, but as a leader worthy of their respect and loyalty. The decision to trade the Hosepant's skills for Wolf Whisperer suddenly felt like the best choice he could have made.

As the adrenaline of battle began to fade, Jamie took stock of their situation. They had cleared the tenth floor, defeated a formidable boss, and grown stronger in the process. But their journey was far from over. There were still more floors to conquer, more challenges to face.

More importantly, there was Srides to think about. Jamie's thoughts turned to his friend, still locked away in her room, grappling with her grief and confusion. He hoped that his newfound strength and the lessons he had learned in leadership would help him reach her, to pull her out of the darkness that had engulfed her.

With a gentle bark, Jamie called his pack to attention. It was time to leave this blood-soaked chamber, to return to the surface and face whatever new challenges awaited them. As they made their way out of the dungeon, Jamie felt a renewed sense of purpose.

He was no longer just Jamie, the loyal companion. He was Jamie, the Wolf Lord, leader of a pack, and protector of those he cared for. And with his new abilities and his loyal wolves by his side, he was ready to take on whatever the world might throw at him next.

The path ahead was uncertain, filled with the promise of both danger and adventure. But as Jamie led his pack towards the light of the surface world, he felt nothing but excitement for what was to come. The tournament, the mysteries surrounding Srides's parents, and threats yet unknown—he would face them all, stronger and wiser than ever before.

And as they emerged from the dungeon into the warm sunlight, Jamie raised his head and let out a triumphant howl. It was a call of victory, of newfound strength, and of hope for the future. Whatever came next, he and his pack would be ready.