The Morality System

The troll lifted its club off the crushed body of Lloyd. I thought they had really high stats. What happened? Stu rushed to Lloyd's side, but the troll stepped on Lloyd and tried to smash Stu. So Stu had to retreat.

"Can I fight?" I yelled to Henry.

"No!" Henry yelled. "Just stay back!"

Stu and Henry tried to fight the troll but their attacks barely hurt it. They just weren't strong enough. The only chance we had was my automatic crit ability.

The troll slammed its foot on the ground, shaking it, and knocking Henry and Stu onto their backs. The troll pulled back its club to smash Henry and I couldn't just stand back and watch anymore.

I put my hand out and formed a bone spike in the air. I aimed it at the troll's head and fired it.

[Auto Crit on Evil activated]

The bone spike redirected slightly in midair and plunged into the troll's eye and its brain. The troll kind of just stood there dying, but its club arm came down anyway.

Just as the club was about to pulverize Henry, a large bubble came out of nowhere and attached itself around part of the club. When the club impacted against Henry, the bubble made it just bounce off and fall to the side.

The troll fell forwards finally and Henry scrambled out of the way of its body. I looked back at Abigail and she was holding her hands out. She had sent the bubble. I guess her magical power was bubbles?

Did that make her a bubble witch? Whatever she was, she had saved Henry's life. I grabbed her and went to hug her, but she went for a kiss so we kind of just smacked faces together.

Then I realized what she was trying to do and I kissed her back. Then I remembered Lloyd and broke the kiss. I looked back and ran over to where Lloyd was lying.

Stu and Henry were already standing there, looking down. I wondered why they weren't doing anything until I saw his body. Yeah, there was nothing they could do for him because he was already dead.

"What the hell, happened?" I said. "I thought this part of the dungeon was supposed to be safe?"

"Yeah, that troll wasn't supposed to be so far up in the dungeon. Trolls aren't supposed to show up until near the bottom," Henry said.

"Yeah, but I thought you guys could make it to the bottom! Just not the boss room," I said.

"That may have been a little exaggerated," Stu said glaring at Henry. "We go to the floor before the floor that's before the boss, grab all the crystals we can, and then high tail it out of here."

"How did you kill that troll? That was pinpoint precision. That's impossible for a new guy. Have you really never been in a dungeon before?" Henry said to me.

"Yes," I said.

"You going to say anything more than 'yes'?" Henry said.

"No," I said.

"Ok!" Henry said. "What about you young lady? How did you do that bubble thing?"

"Instinct," Abigail said. "It's my only spell so I used it."

"Makes sense to me," I said.

"Ok, well, apparently we have two dungeon geniuses on our hands! Let's take Lloyd's body and get out of here! The dungeon run is over!" Henry said.

"No! Shouldn't Lloyd's family get compensation for his death?" I said.

"They should, but they won't," Stu said.

"Why not?" I said.

"The company doesn't insure deaths. It's called assumed risk. The employee takes responsibility for the risk inherent in the job. Meaning, it's your fault if you die. Not the company's," Henry said.

"That's bullshit," I said. "His family should get something as compensation."

"The company won't do it," Henry said.

"What if I do it?" I said.

"What if you do what?" He said.

"What if I compensate his family? The company can't prevent that, right?" I said.

"No, but where would you get the money for that? You're a dungeon porter because you have no money," Henry said. "That's why anyone is a dungeon porter."

"You said, this dungeon run is a wash, right? If you bring Lloyd's body back, the company will accept the loss, right?" I said.

"Uh, yeah. What's your point?" Henry said.

"Well, then the company can't take any of the loot I bring back if Abigail and I complete the dungeon ourselves," I said. "As long as you tell the company the whole thing was a wash, they won't know or suspect we kept any loot to ourselves."

"You'll never get out of there alive, but if by some miracle, you do, I will not tell the company and neither will Stu. Isn't that right, Stu?" Henry said.

"That's right," Stu said.

I activated Soul Inquiry.

'Are you telling the truth?' I asked Henry's soul.

'Yes,' it said.

'Are you telling the truth?' I asked Stu's soul.

'Yes,' it said.

'Will you deliver the loot to Lloyd's family if I give it to you?' I said to Henry's soul again.

'Yes, but I'll pocket a couple of the crystals. I have a family to feed too you know?' Henry's soul said.

'That's fine,' I said.

"Ok, then leave the dungeon and wait at the entrance for however long you think it would take for us to complete it and come back. Maybe two hours?" I said.

"Sure, but when you don't show up after two hours, you're on your own, even if you're somehow still alive," he said.

"Ok," I said. I turned and started to walk away. "Abigail. Let's go."

"Wait!" Henry said.

"What?" I said.

"There should be a platform at the bottom that will send you back to the entrance after you kill the boss," Henry said. "Good luck."

"Thanks," I said and started walking farther down into the mine with Abigail trailing behind me.

It was only a few minutes before another troll showed up, but at least this one announced its presence with a roar.