The Story of E – Chapter 1: The Dream of the Nameless

1. The Beginning of an End

E sat in a dimly lit room, the glow of his desk lamp barely illuminating the pages of an ancient book. The world outside was quiet, but inside his mind, a storm brewed. His fingers traced the cracked leather cover of the book—"Dream of the Nameless."

It was not an ordinary book. It was said to be a legend, a forgotten story that only appeared to those meant to see it. The text spoke of a dream quest, a trial that granted people the chance to achieve their deepest desires.

"A dream not bound by reality… A trial where the worthy are chosen…"

The words resonated deep within him. E had spent his life searching, consuming knowledge, stories, and possibilities, but nothing had ever felt real. His existence was hollow—void of purpose, emotion, or even a sense of belonging.

For the first time in his life, he longed for something more.

"I wish it was true," he muttered absentmindedly.

Silence.

Then, a voice.

"You don't have to wish… because that story is true."

E's body stiffened. The voice came from across the desk, yet when he lifted his gaze, he saw no one.

No—there was someone sitting there, right in front of him. A presence, a silhouette. But no face.

2. The Faceless Stranger

The mysterious figure leaned forward slightly, their tone laced with amusement.

"You finally spoke the words. Took you long enough."

E narrowed his eyes. Who was this? His mind raced through possibilities—hallucination, a dream, a memory? But something told him this was far more than an illusion.

"Who are you?" E asked.

The stranger chuckled. "Now that is a question. But it's the wrong one."

E remained silent, waiting.

"The real question is… do you truly want to know?"

The air in the room felt heavier, like reality itself was waiting for his answer.

E smirked. A test.

"Then let fate be written."

The moment he spoke, the book in his hands disintegrated into light. Letters, glowing like fireflies, floated around him, forming a single sentence in the air.

"Time to meet yourself."

The world shattered.

3. The Reflection of E

When the light faded, E found himself standing in a vast, endless space. The ground beneath him was water, yet he did not sink. The sky was an abyss of swirling stars, and around him floated half-transparent objects—memories, ideas, echoes of what could have been.

A voice called out.

"Come forward."

E did not hesitate. He walked through the water, each step rippling across infinity, until he saw it—the tree.

A massive, dark emerald crystal tree, its roots stretching into the endless void. Around it, thousands of books floated in slow motion, pages turning as if flipping through history itself.

And at the base of the tree, sitting on a floating stone, was someone who looked exactly like him.

E stared. A perfect mirror.

The other E smirked. "Are you me, or do you just look like me?"

"I am you—the you that you need to surpass."

E crossed his arms. He had expected something dramatic, but this?

"All it will take is a handshake."

4. The Burden of Memory

E considered the offer. Was this a trap? A trick? Or was it fate?

Only one way to find out.

He reached out. Their hands met.

The moment they touched, memories flooded his mind. Not visions of his past—no, these were the lives he had not lived.

He saw himself as a conqueror, ruling empires with an iron fist.

As a scholar, unlocking the secrets of the universe.

As a monster, reveling in destruction.

As a hero, sacrificing for a world that would never know his name.

He gasped. His mind burned with knowledge, yet… he was not omnipotent. He understood these lives, but he had not lived them. Not yet.

"Just because you see the path does not mean you have walked it," the other E whispered. "If you want to truly understand, you must experience them yourself."

E clenched his fists. Then that is what he would do.

The other E grinned. "Good. Then throw away that meaningless name. From now on, you are…Eden D. Souldrake."

The moment the name left his lips, the world shifted.

5. The First Step to Singularity

Eden opened his eyes. He was back in his room, the book gone. The stranger, gone. But his mind was not the same.

He had one goal now.

To begin the dream quest.

But first, there were requirements.

To start the journey, he needed to become a Singularity—an existence with no past, no future, and no variants. A being who lived only in the present.

And to do that… he had unfinished business.

He had to erase himself from this world.

Eden stood up.

It was time to say goodbye.

(If Eden could comment on this chapter, it would probably go something like this:)

"Ah, yes. Classic mysterious book leading to life-changing events. So original, right? But hey, it works. Also, shoutout to the Faceless Guy for the cryptic nonsense—I'll figure out who you are later. Probably. Maybe. If I care."

"And really? 'Throw away your meaningless name?' That's some final-boss-level dialogue. But I have to admit, 'Eden D. Souldrake' does sound badass."

"Now, onto the fun part—erasing my existence. Sounds dramatic, but don't worry, dear readers, I have a plan. Step one: burn some bridges. Step two: delete my internet history. Step three: actually start my grand interdimensional journey. Stay tuned!"