Chapter 11: Hero vs. Villain (Ramen Rematch Edition), A Musical Battle, and the Power of Meme Magic

Just as Myra finished floating from her ramen enlightenment… the tavern door exploded.

BOOM.

Splinters flew everywhere. A heroic theme song started playing from somewhere.

Standing in the smoky entrance, glowing with glitter and judgment—

The Hero of Light.

Leo.

"CHAOS KING! OUR RIVALRY ENDS HERE!"

I raised a hand. "We don't have a rivalry."

"You stole my limited-edition pancake plushie when we were kids."

"…Oh. You're that guy?"

"Yes! And I've waited my entire life to take you down!"

I turned to Liria. "We need to stop attracting weird people."

She nodded slowly.

---

Leo drew his massive sword.

I drew… a chopstick. (My dagger was stuck in a jar of pickles.)

The crowd gasped.

"This will be a duel of legends!" one cultist shouted.

"No," Leo said, "This will be a duel of—MUSIC!"

He pulled out a golden lute. The strings glowed with holy magic.

"What the hell—" I started.

Before I could finish, he strummed a chord so powerful it knocked over a table.

Rina whispered, "A Bard Paladin Hybrid. That's illegal."

---

Not to be outdone, Myra grabbed a frying pan and banged it like a drum.

Mimi held up a horn made from a waffle cone.

Rina tuned her spoon like a violin.

Liria summoned a flute made of ice. "I didn't want to do this," she muttered.

I had no instrument… but I did have Meme Magic.

I raised my hand, summoning my enchanted phone.

The ancient device crackled to life and began playing:

> "Never Gonna Give You Up" – Heroic Remix Edition

Leo screamed, "NO—NOT THE RICKROLL!"

---

The battle began.

Flames danced. Lightning arced. Instruments clashed in rhythm.

Every time Leo played a chord, I countered with an internet meme spell.

> "Shrek Summon!"

"Ultra Instinct Dancing Dog!"

"Skibidi Toilet Bomb!"

"Emotional Damage Echo!"

The tavern shook.

Outside, people gathered to watch, thinking it was some kind of bizarre concert.

Someone even started selling tickets.

---

Finally, after one last dramatic power chord, both Leo and I collapsed on the floor.

Panting. Sweaty. Hero and Villain… tied.

"I… still want my plushie back…" he whispered.

I coughed. "It's in my backpack. I use it as a pillow."

"…Fair."

---

And just like that, the battle ended.

No deaths. No explosions (okay, minor ones). Just sheer musical madness.

And maybe… mutual respect?

Nah.

But it was fun.

---

[Next Chapter: The Chaos King's Fanclub, a Dragon with Social Anxiety, and the Accidental Marriage Proposal]

---