Panel 1:
No Plot Man sits in a dimly lit room, a faint hum in the air. He's slouched in a comfy chair, staring at the ceiling as he absentmindedly twirls the rubber chicken. A mysterious fog swirls around him, distorting the space. His eyes slowly flutter shut.
Narration Box: "Sleep is the realm of dreams. A place where the mind wanders, where the impossible becomes tangible. And sometimes… it's where the strangest things begin."
Panel 2:
The fog thickens, and No Plot Man's surroundings start to shift. The chair vanishes, and he suddenly finds himself standing on a vast, empty plain. The sky is a swirl of colors—purple, gold, and teal—completely unnatural.
No Plot Man (looking around): "Okay, this is new. Where's the 'exit' sign?"
Panel 3:
In the distance, a silhouette appears. It's a tall, imposing figure with glowing eyes, draped in flowing robes. The figure raises a hand, and the sky above begins to shift and pulse as if responding to the gesture.
No Plot Man: "Uh, I didn't sign up for this. Are we doing a villain monologue? Because I'm really not in the mood."
Panel 4:
The figure steps closer. As it moves, the ground beneath it cracks and distorts. The silhouette finally becomes fully visible—an otherworldly being with a mask that glows like starlight. It smiles at No Plot Man, its voice deep and resonant.
Figure: "You have questions. But answers come at a price."
No Plot Man (crossing his arms): "Yeah, and I bet it's a hefty one."
Panel 5:
The being extends its hand, and an image forms in the air between them—a distorted, swirling vision of the city under attack. But this time, it's not the kazoo. The buildings are crumbling, the streets are aflame, and a massive figure looms over it all—a dark, monstrous version of No Plot Man, his face twisted into a grotesque mask.
No Plot Man (in disbelief): "What the—who the heck is that?"
Figure: "That… is your future, if you do not change."
Panel 6:
No Plot Man stares at the image, his jaw slack with confusion. The shadowy version of himself lifts its head, its glowing eyes locking onto No Plot Man's.
No Plot Man (frantic): "Okay, okay, hold up. I don't know who that guy is, but I really don't need a dark version of myself stomping around."
Figure (calmly): "He is you. Or rather, the you that you fear to become."
Panel 7:
The vision flickers, and No Plot Man finds himself suddenly standing in front of the dark version, face-to-face. The monstrous No Plot Man looks down at him with a twisted grin.
Monstrous No Plot Man: "You're weak. You're nothing. You'll never be more than a joke."
No Plot Man (stepping back, voice shaking): "No, I… I don't think so!"
Panel 8:
The world around them cracks and shifts again, and the dream begins to spiral out of control. The sky darkens as if being swallowed by an immense shadow. The figure in the robes steps forward, its voice unwavering.
Figure: "It is not too late, but the path you are on will lead to chaos. To destruction. You must choose… redemption or ruin."
Panel 9:
No Plot Man stands in the midst of the crumbling dreamscape, holding the rubber chicken tightly in both hands. His eyes are wide, but there's a flicker of resolve behind them. He grits his teeth.
No Plot Man (defiantly): "You want me to change? Fine. But not because some creepy dream monster told me to."
Figure: "Very well. But remember, every choice has its consequences."
Panel 10:
The dream shatters like glass, the colors and sounds warping and dissolving into chaos. No Plot Man is thrown back as the sky collapses around him, but just before he vanishes, he hears the figure's voice one last time.
Figure (echoing): "This is not the end, but the beginning. The dream will return…"
Panel 11:
No Plot Man wakes up with a jolt, sitting up in his chair. The room is still, and the fog has vanished. He looks around, confused and disoriented, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.
No Plot Man (panting): "What the heck…?"
Narration Box: "Dreams are tricky things. You never know if they're just your mind playing tricks, or something… more."
Panel 12:
As he stands up, No Plot Man glances at the rubber chicken in his hand, the image of the dark version of himself still haunting him in the back of his mind. He shakes his head, trying to push it away.
No Plot Man (grumbling): "Well, that was… definitely a thing. Maybe I need to lay off the pizza before bed."
Narration Box: "But sometimes, dreams don't just fade away. They wait. And No Plot Man's dream… is far from over."
End of Chapter 9