Before she started reading, she decided to arrange her private living space. In theory, she doesn't need a bed or a bathroom. She was a being made of energy, and her tiredness was more like a notification to stop for the moment, she didn't need sleep. Bath can be easily replaced by magic. Naomi was a little excited for perspective she could work on something all night, but a home without a bedroom would be incomplete. Bathing was something that she loved. Soaking for hours makes her relaxed and helps her forget all her troubles. The kitchen was problematic because she never learned how to cook. And why should she, everything can be bought ready-made. Five minutes in the oven and you can eat. Nonetheless, she designs one room as a kitchen. "Maybe I will try to learn how to cook?'' The workshop was another thing necessary for her. There, she will be designing new traps and floors. She also plans to build gadgets and devices full of gears and springs. "Maybe steam, too? Yeah, I had a real workshop and magic I can try Steam, too. But that later. Now I need to find how to design my third floor that will scare everyone, and no one will even think of challenging my last champion." She goes to her library and starts reading and making notes with ideas. It takes some time before she finishes all the scrolls, whose titles even remotely suggest they have some information.

  "That looks promising." She said after going through her notes. "There is hope. I can't use this method on normal floors, but on the last floor, it’s ok. Let’s do it."

  First, she made a five-hundred-meter diameter round zone with her private quarters. Around it was a spacious cave one km wide. The entrance on the floor she made was opposite the entrance to the core room. Around the stairs, she designed a safe zone with grass on the floor, accommodating a maximum of fifty people. The only luxury was a fountain with fresh water. The rest of the floor was a dense, dark, marshy jungle. There, she planted only poisonous plants and summoned venomous creatures. There will be nothing edible besides crocodiles and piranhas inhabiting muddy waters. For extra effect, she chose rainy weather with a cloudy sky. There were fake skeletons of dead adventurers, some strange ancient ruins barely visible beneath all the vines, and moss. The entrance to the core room was on top of the fake Mayan-like pyramid. The pyramid was hidden beneath overgrown plants, and the steps had many loose stones for careless adventurers. There was a chance for the unlucky ones to break their neck. There wasn't any path leading from the safe zone to the core room.

  "Time for the champion. I need the biggest serpent that lives or was living in this world." Before, she appeared one, and it was a real giant. He can swallow the biggest human with ease. Maybe even a horse will be no problem. Naomi sighed heavily. This snake was dangerous as hell, but it was a beautiful animal. "Ok. Let’s make this unfair as much as possible." She decided. First, she reinforced its bones to the limits. No one will crash its head, and ribs should protect its insides. Next, she strengthens muscles. That makes it faster, and there shouldn't be armor that can withstand its crushing power. And finally, his body will be protected by the toughest scales nature can make.

  "Let’s make your senses sharper, but not much, only as it's needed for your new body. Sensory overload well makes you defenseless. Oh, and let me see if I can add a chameleon ability to change color to help you sneak on adventurers. You are almost invisible, but I will give you every cheat. Nice, no problem here-she smiles. Naomi also added the deadliest venom and the ability to spit it. Big predators don’t use venoms because their strength alone is usually enough, but for Naomi, anyone who tries to explore the jungle will be a bad or even evil person. As usual, she checks if everything is alright and confirms the summoning of the snake. When he appears, she is stunned and speechless.

  "You are beautiful," Naomi whispers. Slowly, she raises her hand to touch its scales. Earlier, Naomi checked whether and how friendly her animals were. And no matter how deadly or dangerous one was, she could pet it. She even pets crocodiles and plays a little with Pirania. And now a giant snake. "You are beautiful." She whispers once more after she snuggles up to his body. His scales were hard but smooth, like silk and warm.

  "Thank you," Naomi said after a few minutes. "First thing. Are you feeling good? Are there any pains or something? Try to move a little." And the snake starts to move. First, slowly, carefully because he was near her when he decided that he was a safe distance, he went all out. Naomi was speechless when she saw how agile and fast he was. There was no chance that someone could run away. Maybe on an open field, but in the jungle, never. And he doesn't bump or touch one tree, even at full speed.

  "You are incredible." Naomi pets him after he returns. "The second important thing." She got serious and looked into his eyes. "I’m sorry. Under this pyramid is hidden, my soul. Because I’m weak and don’t know how to fight, I need your help. And that means that you will be risking your life for me. To help you, I made this jungle as deadly as possible, and I promise to work hard and build upper floors as dangerous. But I can't guarantee your safety. So I'm sorry."

  The snake looked into her eyes for a moment. Then, gently, with his forked tongue, licked her cheek.

  "Thank you," Naomi said and snuggled up to his body.

  "You need a name. What about Moss? The natural color of your scales is like moss." Snake blinks, and Naomi feels his acceptance. "Wonderful. But I think I forgot something." Moss looked at her with curiosity. He raises his body and looks around, but everything looks how it should be.

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  "I remember! Stupid me. Sorry Moss. I'm not a very sociable person. I forgot about one obvious thing. Do you want a companion?"

  Snake eyes open wide. The little one was right in both things. Of course, it was obvious that being alone, even in such a perfect jungle, would be lonely.

  "I see that you want a companion. Wait a moment." Naomi concentrated, and after a few moments, next to them was another snake. A little smaller and in a deeper color of green. "I’m sorry. I can't make you as powerful as Moss. I could add only the ability to change the color of your scales."

  The new snake looks at her and the other snake and nods in acceptance

  "Thank you. Oh, and you need a name too. What about Ivy? Your scales are in a similar deep green color."

  The snake looks at its body and nods in agreement.

  "I'm happy that you like it. Oh, and the sun will always shine on the pyramid, so if you want sunbathing, go there. There is also an entrance to my home so I try to visit both of you when you are there. I think that will be all for now. You can go now, and once again, I’m sorry for any painful and scary things that can happen in the future."

  They accept her apology, and Naomi feels something like assurance and understanding. It eases her worries a little. When they disappeared, Naomi went up to check everything, one final time Then Naomi stood before the goddess statue, took a deep breath, and said.

  "I’m ready."

  Instantly, the air trembled from all the energy used to create her dungeon.

  Four days away from On-Taram Oasis through sands moves caravan. A group of master merchants led by grand merchant Venancijs were returning from the north. The caravan was quite big; there were more than one thousand animals. Only half of camels carry goods for sale, but the final profit should be decent. Protecting them were numerous adventurers. It wasn't for Venancijs the first journey through the desert. He knew that skimping on protection was a recipe for disaster. Big groups of experienced adventurers were expensive, but greedy merchants never went beyond master level, usually because they died traveling with too small protection.

  Commander of Adventures, Lucius, spent all his life working in the desert. Any mission like guiding and protecting caravans, helping some fool who is looking for some lost city or kingdom he doesn't mind. If you have enough gold, you can hire him and his team. Not many, however, like to work with him. All because of his mine rule. Everyone must listen to him and do as he commands. There is even a rumor that some king tried to hire him, but he refused because this king didn't want to agree to this rule. Luckily, this time, he was working for Venancijs, his old acquaintance. Negotiation with him was a mere formality. For now, their journey was peaceful. Well, there was one group of bandits, but they dealt with them easily. But now he felt something he hadn't felt for a long time. He took off his scarf and took a deep breath through his nose. He tried to make sure he was not imagining things.

  "Commander?" A young elf ran up to him. Well, young for elves, Methild was past one hundred years old. He was also a peculiar fellow because he came from one of the most rainy regions of the continent.

  "I know. A storm is coming." Lucius answered. "Tell others. I will tell merchants. We need to make preparations before it hits us."

  "Yes, Commander."

  "Hello, Commander," Venancijs said to Lucius. "Something happens?"

  "The storm is coming."

  "I was hoping for good weather until On Taram oasis."

  "I, too." The commander agrees with him. "Organize your people."

  "Of course. I hope that we don’t lose too many supplies."

  "I will check everything personally, and my people will protect them."

  "Thank you, my old friend." Merchand smiled, and the commander nodded in response.

  Tethering the camels so they don't run away and pitching and securing tents takes some time. But the first gust of wind, just an hour after the commander's warning, showed his experience. And the storm was getting stronger.

  "Ach, Commander. It’s nice you come to our tent." Venancijs said, seeing him entering the tent.

  "Preparation is complete." He said after firmly securing the entrance. Beside the grand merchant on the carpet were sitting five other merchants and priestess Schewa. She was a wolf beastwoman. Technically, she was mixed blood because her mother was the real one, and her father was an elf. However, children inherit most of their characteristics from higher-level parents.

  "Correct me, my friend, but I think it will be a big storm."

  "Not only big, but elemental. No one will get sleep tonight."

  There was silence in the tent. An elemental storm happens for two reasons. One was the natural accumulation of magic in some place for a long time. Short-lived races, such as humans, may sometimes not even be aware that such an event exists, let alone experience it. The second reason was that someone or something triggered it. Usually, it’s connected to finding or using artifacts. It could also be some archmage testing some grand spell.

  "Mana feels normal for me through our journey, so it’s not a natural. Isn’t it?" Asked the priestess.

  "Shamans and nomadic priests keep an eye on mana accumulations. They can't prevent elemental storms. But when it happens, it looks like just a big storm. Never something like this." Answered commander.