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 notification to stop for the moment, she didn't need sleep. Bath can be easily replaced by magic. And even if Naomi was predicting that she will rarely sleep, at last she can work on something all night, that home without a bedroom will be incomplete. Bathing was something that she just loves, soaking for hours makes her relaxed and helps forgotten about all troubles. Kitchen was problematic because she never learned how to cook. And why should she, everything can be bought ready-made. five minutes in oven and you can eat. Nonetheless, she design one room as kitchen. Maybe she try to learn how to cook? Workshop was another thing necessary for her. There she will be creating new traps, floors and in free time her personal gadgets and gizmos full of gears and powered by springs-maybe steam too? Yeah i had a real workshop and magic so 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 scrolls witch titles even remotely suggested that they maybe have some information.

-that looking 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 500 meter diameter round zone with her private quarters, around it a spacious cave 1 km wide. Entrance on the floor she made opposite the entrance to the core room. Around the stairs she designed a safe zone with grass on the floor, accommodating a maximum of 50 people. The only luxury was a fountain with fresh water. The rest of the floor she chose as dense dark marshy jungle. There she planted only poisonous plants and summoned poisonous creatures. There will be nothing edible, well besides crocodile, and phiranias inhabiting muddy waters. For extra effect she chose rainy weather with cloudy sky. Here and there were fake skeletons of dead adventurers, some strange ancient ruins barely visible beneath all the vines, and moss. Entrance to the core room she made on top of the fake Mayan like pyramid. The pyramid was hidden beneath a lot of plants too, and the steps have many loose stones for careless adventurers. There was a chance for the really unlucky ones to even break their neck. And there wasn't any path leading from the safe zone to the core room.

-time for champion. Show me the biggest serpent that lives or was living in this world-before her 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 just crash its head, and ribs should protect its insides. Next she strengthen muscles. that makes it faster, and there shouldn't be armor that can withstand its crashing power. And finally his body will be protected by toughest scales as nature can make.

-ok. 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 chameleon ability to change color to help you sneak on adventurers. You are already almost invisible but every cheat i can give you i will. Nice, no problem here-she smiles. Naomi also added deadliest venom and ability to spit it. Big predators don’t use venoms because it’s 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 stunned speechless

-you are beautiful-Naomi whispers, slowly she raises her hand to touch its scales. Earlier Naomi tested how much her animals are friendly to her. And no matter how deadly or dangerous one was she can pet it. She even pet crocodile, and played a little with pirania. And now giant snake-you are beautiful-she whispers once more after she snuggled up to his body. His scales was hard but smooth like silk and warm.

-thank you-Naomi said after a few minutes-first thing. Are you feeling good, 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 in 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 pet him after he returns-ok. The second important thing-she get serious and looked into his eyes-i’m really sorry. Deep in this pyramid is hidden my soul and because i’m weak and i 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 I can, and I promise to work hard and build upper floors as dangerous as I can. But I can't guarantee your safety. So I'm sorry.

The snake looked in her eyes for the moment and gently with his forked tongue licked her cheek.

-thank you-Naomi said and once again snuggled up to his body

-you need a name. What about Moss? The natural color of your scales are like moss- snake blink and Naomi feels his acceptance- wonderful. But I think I forgot something- Moss looked at her with curiosity. He even raises his body and touches a few trees and bushes, and looks around, but for him everything looks how it should be.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

-I remember! Stupid me. Sorry moss. I'm not a very sociable person and I forgot to ask you a very obvious question. Do you want any 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 will 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 smoler and in a deeper color of green-I’m sorry. I can't make you as powerful as Moss. I was only able to add the ability to change the color of your scales.

The new snake looks at her and 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 some sunbathing go there. There is also an entrance to my home so in my free time 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 future.

They accept her apology, somehow Naomi feels something like assurance, and understanding from them. It eases her worries a little. When they disappear between trees Naomi goes up to check one final time everything. Then Naomi stood in front of the goddess statue, took a deep breath and said.

-i’m ready.

Instantly air it trembled from all the energy that Naomi used for creating 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. Well only half of camels carry goods for sale, but the final profit should be quite decent. They were protected by numerous group of adventurers. It wasn't the first journey through the desert for Venancijs and he knew that skimping on protection was a recipe for disaster. Yes, big group 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 be it 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. In the desert everyone must listen to him and do as he was telling them. 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 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?-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. 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?

-storm is coming.

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

-me too-commander agrees with him-organize your people.

-of course. I hope that we don’t lose too much supplies.

-I will check everything personally, and my people will be protecting them.

-thank you my old friend-merchand smiled and the commander nodded in response.

Tethering the camels so they don't run away takes some time. Pitching and securing tents also, but the first gusts of wind just hour after the commander warning shows his experience. And the wind gets stronger and 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 entrance. Beside the grand merchant on the carpet were sitting five other merchants and priestess Schewa. She was a wolf beastman. Well technically she was mixed blood, because her mother was the real one, and her father was elf. But children inherit most of their characteristics from higher level parent.

-Correct me, my friend, but I think that 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 very 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 finding or using artifact. It could also be some archmage testing some grand spell.

-mana feels normal for me through our journey, so it’s not natural one. Isn’t it?-asked the priestess.

-shamans and nomadic priests make sure that mana does not accumulate too much. They can't prevent elemental storms but when it happens it looks like just a big storm. Never something like this-answered commander.