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"Every revolution makes enemies. Even one built with cheese."
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[Scene 1 – The Challenger Appears]
The morning after Zayden flipped Brimvale on its head, Core Bites™ was the loudest place in town.
The square was packed. Peasants waiting in line. Merchants offering sheep in exchange for fries. Kids beatboxing with their mouths after hearing Zayden's futuristic tracks through a hologram speaker.
Even the village pigeons were getting bold.
Zayden stood behind his sleek, glowing counter, wearing a sleeveless vest that projected his company logo. The sleeves were off. The charm was on.
> "You want the melt-stack deluxe or the synth-meat supreme?"
"Yes," replied a stunned noblewoman, not even knowing what that meant.
M.A.I.A.'s voice pinged softly in his ear.
> "Note: 79% of villagers now believe you're either a prophet or an alien. One blacksmith thinks you're a cursed frog prince."
Zayden shrugged.
> "Frog prince with five-star taste."
But the good vibes were about to burn.
From across the square, the crowd suddenly parted like a wave, whispers riding the wind.
> "It's him..."
"The Iron Vow..."
"He's come to challenge the future..."
The footsteps were heavy. Clanking. Full medieval drip.
A knight appeared. Head to toe in dented armor, broad as a bear and twice as serious. A long red cape dragging behind him. Sword almost as tall as the man himself.
Sir Garrick Ironvain.
Knight of the Realm. Defender of Tradition. Enemy of Sandwiches.
> "You," Garrick growled, pointing his blade toward Zayden's burger stand, "are disrupting the sacred order of food and flame."
Zayden raised an eyebrow, tossing a fry into his mouth.
> "You mad I didn't bring soup?"
The crowd oooh'd. A chicken squawked.
> "I challenge you," Garrick declared, "to trial by combat. For spreading chaos. For disrespecting the flame. And for dressing like a glowing jester."
Zayden glanced at his boots, then at the giant man holding a sword.
> "I accept," he said with a wink. "But I don't fight for free."
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[Scene 2 – Combat of the Ages]
Ten minutes later, a ring was formed. Villagers circled the center of the square, watching history unfold.
Garrick stomped into the dirt, sword raised.
Zayden strolled in, holding… a frying pan.
> "You're mocking the code of knights!" Garrick roared.
> "Nah," Zayden replied, spinning the pan in one hand, "just updating it."
M.A.I.A. whispered, "Combat probability 31%. Recommend evasive maneuver if he does a jump spin."
> "He can barely bend, Maia."
And then it began.
Clang!
Garrick swung. Zayden ducked.
Swipe!
Zayden whacked his shin with the pan. It made a hilarious bonk sound. The crowd giggled.
Slice!
Garrick roared, swinging hard—but Zayden backflipped like a ninja gymnast with parkour lessons.
> "Try the fries, man! You're clearly hungry!"
Garrick charged, but Zayden hit a button on his belt. BOOM—a pulse of gravity knocked the knight off his feet and flat on his back, sword flying.
The crowd went silent.
Zayden walked up, leaned down, and offered Garrick a hand.
In the other hand? A double-patty burger.
> "No hard feelings. You can be the first knight on the Core Bites loyalty program."
Garrick blinked.
Then, slowly… he took the burger.
He bit into it.
And his eyes watered.
> "By the gods…" he whispered. "This… this is better than glory."
The crowd erupted in cheers. Even the priest hesitated. One guard dropped his spear and ran to order onion rings.
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[Scene 3 – The Enterprise Expands]
That evening, the villagers helped Zayden build the first Core Bites pavilion: a sleek structure of metal and smooth stone, glowing softly in the night. It looked like it didn't belong—but everyone wanted it there.
Lines still formed under moonlight. Children sang one of Zayden's tunes. A young couple got engaged over a shared soda.
The future wasn't invading.
It was blending in.
Back at the bakery base, Zayden leaned against a wall, sipping cold synth-cola.
> "Day two: won the public, beat a knight, sold sixty-three burgers. I've seen worse Mondays."
M.A.I.A. chimed in.
> "Warning: multiple kingdoms have now marked Core Enterprise as a 'foreign threat.' Surveillance spells detected from the east. Hostile curiosity rising."
Zayden smirked.
> "Good. Let them watch."
He clicked a button. Behind him, a giant blueprint hologram lit up—a futuristic map of the continent, dotted with potential Core Enterprise locations.
> "Tomorrow begins expansion. And we start with… music."
He walked off, into the blue glow, humming a beat the world hadn't heard yet.
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📘 END OF CHAPTER 2
Next Chapter:- Chapter 3: The Bard and the Beat Drop.