Wow, the jam's only just started and you've already created such a cute player model. That's looking really nice.
In regards to your comment about your game needing combat so you can fight Dark Schippie Dues, I don't personally believe you necessarily have to interpret that rule as a requirement for combat.
So that everyone is free to make the style of game they want to, I think it would be better if we saw it as a boss challenge rather than focusing so literally on the word "fight". I think there were a few games like that last year, though I'm not 100% certain on which ones anymore.
If you're wanting to make a game without combat, I actually think that's very admirable. There are a couple of ways I think you could compete with Dark Schippie Dues that aren't literal combat.
If you're doing a lot of platforming in your game, then you could race them through some sort of obstacle course/stage.
Otherwise, maybe something in the vein of hide and seek or tag from Pokepark would be cool.
It might be more complicated, but a having a competition like the eating competition against Mr. Vile in Banjo-Kazooie or the Crystal Popcorn game against Hunter in Spyro 2 would feel a lot like a direct boss challenge to me. Something were you could hurt Dues' score by getting something they were going for without necessarily having to physically hurt them.
Though, all of that said, ultimately you're at the mercy of a lot of different judges and your game's rating depends on their interpretation of your interpretation of what the phrasing "optional boss fight" means. So sometimes it's safer to go with the most obvious thing.
Good luck with the jam! I'm looking forward to the final product whatever direction you take it in.