Z slowly circled Administrator A as she kept several paces between them. She did not allow herself to become distracted by anything else.
All of her attention remained fixed upon the man opposite her. She had already experienced the capabilities of his mechanical proxy, and while that encounter had been dangerous enough, something about facing the genuine Administrator A made her considerably more cautious. There was no wasted movement in his posture, no nervousness, and no indication that he felt even remotely threatened by her presence. He simply watched her with those cold eyes, following every slight movement that she made.
Z kept herself calm, although golden mana quietly gathered around her fingertips. She had no intention of attacking prematurely. Whatever strength Administrator A possessed, she had no reason to assume she understood its limits, and making the first mistake in a confrontation like this could easily prove fatal. So she continued circling him, matching his pace while carefully observing his posture.Eventually, Administrator A stopped, and so Z stopped moving as well
"Former Administrator Z, though I have every reason to eliminate you here and now, there is something I have been meaning to ask you. Why did you betray the company?" Administrator A asked.
The question was delivered with such clinical detachment that it almost sounded like an inquiry during an ordinary corporate review. There was no anger in his voice mand certainly no grief over the loss of a former colleague. Only a cold desire for an explanation.
"I did not consider my departure a betrayal." Z said.
Administrator A tilted his head slightly. "An interesting interpretation."
"It is the truth, if anything else, Divinity Inc. simply changed too much for me to accept."
"Then perhaps you could… elaborate on your reasoning."
Z studied him for a moment before answering. "Divinity Inc. has never been the same since the previous CEO resigned."
"I actually agree with your statement. However, I suspect we disagree on whether that change was detrimental." Administrator A said.
"Let me guess, you believe the current CEO has only made improvements?"
"More than that, CEO Y has only made Divinity Inc. much more powerful and profitable than ever before."
Administrator A resumed circling her, forcing Z to turn with him. "CEO Y recognized the weaknesses of the previous administration and corrected them. Former CEO Ishgria was a capable executive, but she allowed sentiment to interfere with proper corporate decision-making. Employees who consistently failed to meet expectations were given additional opportunities. Inefficient departments were permitted to continue operating. Personnel who should have been terminated were retained because someone believed they deserved another chance. But, CEO Y does not make those mistakes."
Z's eyes narrowed. "That's only because she treats employees as disposable."
"Because CEO Y understands the value of each employee greatly, and those who do not perform must be removed for the success of the company."
"And what of you, A? Do you truly believe that you will not be disposed of just because of your position?"
"No, I believe I will retain my position due to my excellent performance and contributions to the company."
Administrator A stopped walking. "Under CEO Y, Divinity Inc. has developed a far stronger corporate culture. Employees understand precisely what is expected of them. Loyalty is encouraged, dissent is dealt with quickly, and any inefficient practices are eliminated."
Z could barely resist the urge to slap this man right then and there. CEO Y stripped company employees of many of the benefits they once received under the former CEO. Once, each employee was entitled to paid leave, the best health and dental insurance money could afford, and rather generous unpaid leave allocations as well. Overtime was compensated fairly and working beyond one's usual eight hours was not mandatory.
The Former Administrator glared at Administrator A. "You truly have fallen for CEO Y's propaganda hook, line, and sinker, haven't you?"
"Hmph, speak for yourself. I still believe the current CEO has done an excellent job, as she is willing to do what is necessary for progress."
Z felt a quiet disappointment settle within her. "You mistake efficiency for virtue."
Administrator A's expression remained unchanged. "Explain."
"An organization can become extremely efficient at doing the wrong thing. What you call a strong corporate culture is, in practice, a culture of fear and absolute obedience."
"Employees who fulfill their responsibilities have nothing to fear."
"That is not the point."
"Employees are not machines, Administrator A. They have fears, ambitions, families, loyalties, and lives beyond their employment. They cannot simply be evaluated as numbers on a performance report and discarded when they no longer produce an acceptable return."
"That is an unnecessarily emotional assessment. And besides, we have already replaced many of the less efficient employees with automated systems precisely because the machines are more efficient."
Z exhaled a sigh. "This is what I found most difficult to accept. "Divinity Inc. has always possessed enormous influence. What we do affects far more people than those who wear our uniforms or work within our offices. Every decision made by our executives can have consequences for people who have absolutely no say in the matter. People outside the company suffer because of our decisions. Entire communities can be displaced. Innocent lives can be destroyed. Employees can be pushed beyond their limits. And yet CEO Y rarely considers what happens after the objective has been achieved."
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Because at the end of the day, the company's profitability is what matters. Any external consequences are largely irrelevant."
"Then who determines what consequences are acceptable?"
"Leadership."
"And what happens when leadership is wrong?"
"Leadership cannot afford to hesitate every time an undesirable consequence presents itself."
More and more mana began to gather more densely around Z's hands. Across from her, Administrator A's hands began to crackle with energy as well. "If you truly believe CEO Y has led Divinity Inc. astray, then I imagine you will consider stopping us your responsibility."
Z's eyes narrowed. "Of course."
"Even if doing so requires opposing the company you once served?"
Z did not hesitate. "Especially then."
"You will fail, former Head Administrator. In the next few minutes, I will dispose of you."
Z's expression remained composed, though her grip tightened. "Hmph. I have only one more thing to say to you."
Administrator A raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"
"Perdition Rite Number Six: Divine Spear."
The instant the final word left her lips, a massive spear of divine energy materialized high above Administrator A, its radiant shaft humming with condensed power as countless streams of golden mana coiled around its surface. Then, the spear tore downward with terrifying speed, aimed directly at Administrator A's chest. The force behind it was immense enough to make the air shudder.
But at the very last moment, Administrator A raised a hand and caught the descending spear. The impact sent a thunderous shockwave across the chamber, scattering dust and debris across the floor, while the spear remained suspended in his grasp. Golden energy crackled violently around his fingers, but Administrator A's arm did not so much as tremble.
Z's eyes widened slightly. Administrator A looked up at her through the brilliant glow of the spear. "I suppose, the time for pleasantries is over, then."
Administrator A tightened his grip around the radiant spear before abruptly twisting his body and hurling it back at Z, the weapon becoming a blazing streak of golden light as it tore through the air toward her. Z's eyes widened, and she immediately stepped aside, allowing the spear to fly past her shoulder before it plunged deep into the floor behind her with a deafening impact, sending cracks racing outward as fragments of stone and showers of golden sparks scattered across the chamber.
Z barely had time to recover before Administrator A raised his hand. A flicker of darkness gathered above his palm, rapidly condensing into the shape of a weapon. Within moments, a black revolver materialized in his grasp, one covered in runes that glowed with an ominous light.
Administrator A raised the revolver and calmly aimed it at Z, the weapon's runes beginning to glow as the hammer clicked into place. Z shifted her stance, but the moment he pulled the trigger, the barrel erupted with a thunderous BANG! and unleashed a blazing mass of explosive fire magic that tore through the air toward her, expanding as it flew until it resembled a miniature sun.
Z thrust both hands forward. Golden mana surged from her body, rapidly forming a translucent magical barrier between herself and the incoming spell. The fireball collided with the barrier an instant later.
A colossal explosion of flame engulfed the barrier, sending a wave of scorching heat through the chamber. The golden shield buckled violently beneath the impact, its surface rippling as fiery cracks spread across it. Z dug her feet into the floor and poured more mana into the barrier, desperately reinforcing it as the flames continued to roar against her barrier.
The flames eventually began to fade, diminishing into wisps of smoke as the last of the fire curled away from Z's barrier. Once the attack had fully dissipated, Z dismissed the golden shield and spread her wings, ascending toward the ceiling to gain a better vantage point. Her eyes remained fixed on Administrator A below as she gathered her mana, and then, with a sudden surge of power, the floor beneath him violently split apart.
An enormous hand of solid rock erupted upward, its massive fingers curling around Administrator A before crushing him beneath an overwhelming weight. The entire chamber shook as the stone fist closed, but Administrator A wouldn't go out so easily.
A brilliant flash of energy erupted from within the hand, blasting chunks of stone in every direction as he tore himself free and landed amid the rubble. He looked toward Z, calmly reloading his revolver before raising it again and firing another shot.
This time, a burst of freezing magic exploded from the barrel, a colossal wave of ice surging through the chamber as frost rapidly spread across the floor and walls. Z responded by inhaling deeply, drawing in air before exhaling a torrent of fire from her mouth.
The flames erupted outward like a volcanic eruption, blazing with such intensity that the very air warped from the heat as they collided head-on with Administrator A's ice spell. Fire and ice crashed together in the center of the chamber as the opposing forces fought for dominance. Steam exploded outward in enormous clouds, obscuring the battlefield as the temperature swung violently between scorching heat and unnatural cold.
Z eventually cut off her flames as she sensed movement somewhere beyond the swirling steam. She hovered cautiously as she surveyed the chamber, now almost completely obscured by thick clouds of vapor created by the clash of fire and ice. Visibility was practically nonexistent, leaving her to rely on her senses to locate Administrator A's presence somewhere within the mist.
She listened for the slightest disturbance before suddenly turning toward her left. There.
Z thrust out a hand and unleashed a bolt of lightning that tore through the steam. Yet, the attack struck nothing but empty air. Z's eyes narrowed, and before she could react, she sensed a presence rushing toward her from the mist.
Administrator A emerged at incredible speed, his leg already raised as he launched himself into a devastating dropkick aimed directly at her. Z reacted on instinct, twisting backward and narrowly avoiding the attack as Administrator A sailed past her. His boot instead slammed into the floor with tremendous force, producing a thunderous explosion that sent cracks spiderwebbing across the stone as a crater formed beneath his foot.
Z immediately took the opening. She rushed through the steam, pulled back her fist, and swung straight for Administrator A's face with a devastating punch. Yet somehow, he recovered before her punch could land.
His posture quickly straightened as he twisted his body into position, raising one hand just in time to catch Z's fist. His fingers closed tightly around her hand, stopping the punch completely. Administrator A smiled.
After that, Administrator A suddenly threw Z across the room. She was sent flying through the air, but quickly tried to regain control of herself before she could crash into the wall. Then she heard another gunshot. Z immediately dropped toward the floor and rolled aside, and a moment later, a massive beam of light tore through the space where she had been. Getting hit by that would have been very bad news.
Z pushed herself back to her feet and looked ahead as the thick mist slowly began to clear. Through the fading clouds, she saw Administrator A calmly walking toward her, revolver still in hand. The fight was becoming more drawn out than she had expected, and Z wasn't sure whether that was a good thing. She was confident in her own abilities, but she had no idea what the current Head Administrator was truly capable of, or how much more he might still have left to show her.