Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 64: Ch62. Second Attribute

Chapter 64: Ch62. Second Attribute

Miles’ breath came in ragged gasps as he staggered back up and stared at the second shadow stretching beneath him.

It was subtle at first, almost imperceptible against the dim lighting of the room. But now, as the lingering effects of the visions faded from his mind, the reality of its presence became undeniable. Or he had just failed to process its presence up until now, after so many things had happened, during and after Wonderland.

’Oh, gods... How many people saw it when I was outside?’ Miles gasped inwardly, moving its hand.

The second shadow moved just like the first, Miles’ original shadow, did. No delay. No hesitation. It mimicked his every motion exactly, yet something about it felt wrong.

His own shadow stretched naturally, bending with the light, but this one remained inky and fluid, shifting slightly even when he was perfectly still, completely unaffected by any light tricks.

"The hell...?" Miles murmured, his fingers twitching instinctively toward his scythe, though he didn’t summon it.

Diego, who had been hovering nearby, watching Miles recover, caught the tension in his stance immediately.

"Big bro? What’s wrong? You’re acting like you just saw a ghost."

Miles didn’t respond. Instead, he cautiously lifted his foot, watching as both shadows followed the movement. But while his original shadow obeyed the laws of light, the second one twisted unnaturally, as if detached from any physical rule.

Almost detaching itself from the floor.

His heartbeat quickened. It was just like the thing in the cave.

The wraith, the formless fog-entity that had lurked within the darkness where the White Rabbit had been imprisoned. The one that had tried to kill him. The one he had fought and seemingly destroyed, but reappeared out of nowhere and gave him the [Ender’s Essence] attribute.

He clenched his fists, focusing his mind. If this thing had become his or whatever when he passed the trial, back in the Queen of Hearts’ castle ruins, then the system should be able to recognize it, right?

Miles opened his status window, scanning it to see if there was anything related to the shadow in there.

But there was nothing.

[Name: Miles Thorn]

[Affiliation: None]

[Level: 01]

[Classpect: Harbinger of The End]

[Attributes: Ender’s Essence]

[Skills: Weapons Proficiency (Scythe) – Level 03; Resilience – Level 03; Focus – Level 03]

[Strength: 08(+5)]

[Agility: 03(+5)]

[Dexterity: 04(+5)]

[Perception: 10(+5)]

[Intelligence: 15(+5)]

[Inventory: Scorching Rune; Harbinger’s Scythe; Ether Teapot; Desert Rain; Wonderland’s Key; Clockwork Rabbit’s Piece (Gear); Clockwork Rabbit’s Piece (Core); Clockwork Rabbit’s Essence]

[Synergy: Wonderland Madness; God Hunter]

"Tsc..." Miles clicked his tongue and tapped his feet, which both his shadows followed, making Miles tilt his head. "What in the major fuck are you, then...?"

For a moment, nothing happened. Diego kept watching quietly, and neither shadows answered – as if they could simply start to talk. After a few seconds, however, a different window appeared before Miles.

[Unknown Element detected]

[Would you like to convert – Unknown Element?]

[Yes] [No]

Miles’ pulse pounded in his ears. Converting an unknown element?

"Hey, big bro, is everything all right? What’s going on? Is your system showing something?" Diego stepped closer, his brows knitting together.

"Yeah, just... Wait a minute, please. I’m feeling a little better, okay?" Miles answered absentmindedly, his mind racing.

After everything that happened, even after he left Wonderland, his heart tightened at the mere idea of tapping into something he did not know. Having his stats reset and his level back to 01 due to the Mad Hatter’s gear was something he definitely was not expecting, but even then, the gear was an element acknowledged by the Glitch’s system.

Now, though?

Not only Miles did not know what he was dealing with, but it also seemed like the system itself did not know it either.

"Damn it..." Miles exhaled, his mind reeling as he fought against the anxiety that made his breathing difficult. Indecision was one thing, but this... This was something else entirely. "Ah, fuck it!"

He pressed [Yes], and immediately felt it.

A shift within his soul, like something ethereal finally taking shape. And then, the lines of text in the system window changed once more.

[A new Attribute has blossomed in your soul]

[Attribute: Shadow of the End]

"What?" Miles’ eyes widened as he froze. "A new... Attribute?"

Attributes weren’t just passive abilities, they defined how much of a powerhouse a player would become, and Miles could count on the fingers of one hand the number of players who had received Attributes, even though it seemed too early in the game to be so sure. But those players had become famous in their own areas.

Like Sarissa and Shinji.

Attributes shaped how someone interacted with the world, how their power evolved. And if this shadow was now one of such...

Hesitantly, Miles tapped on the [Attribute Description], and his eyes widened, gleaming with excitement as he read through the lines of text.

[Attribute Description: A shadow born from the Darkness cast by inevitability itself. A reflection that moves beyond the self, lingering in the space between existence and emptiness. Due to its ethereal nature, it will bind to its wielder and follow its commands, never ceasing to exist, even after its master’s death.]

[Attribute’s Skills: Wraith’s Echo; Inevitable Inheritance; Doppelgänger; ???]

[Wraith’s Echo]

[Attribute’s Skill Description: Allows the player to interact with entities outside the perception of time and space, including remnants of the past and other wraiths.]

[Inevitable Inheritance]

[Attribute’s Skill Description: The shadow retains some of the knowledge belonging to its wielder’s adversaries through battle.]

[Doppelgänger]

[Attribute’s Skill Description: As a shadow bound to the player’s soul, it can become an avatar of the player, in order to help the player in whatever they need. It can also act as a mantle for the player to wear, doubling the player’s stats.]

[??? – Locked]

Miles’ fingers tightened around the arm of the couch as he read through the description. And when he was done reading it, he could not help but laugh.

Diego, who had been idly watching, full of concern, tilted his head and asked.

"Big bro...?"

"It’s nothing, Dee." Miles laughed. "It’s just that... I think I found the answer to my problem with lacking the strength to fight the Queen."

"What? How?" Diego frowned.

That Attribute wasn’t just a power-up. This thing – this shadow, his shadow – was his own now. It could carry pieces of the things he had fought by absorbing them, it could interact with things beyond time and space, probably allowing him to attack other incorporeal beings, and it also doubled his stats... Just like the Mad Hatter’s gear did.

His thoughts snapped back to when he first dismissed the exquisite clothing, and the feeling of utter weakness he had experienced after that.

Was it a good idea to try and test it against the Queen’s wraith?

His stomach twisted as his eyes flickered back to his second shadow, still lurking silently beneath him.

"Well, shit." Miles sighed. "Dee, I need you to do me a favor while I sleep on this new Attribute, okay?"

"What? You got an... No, wait. Did you just say new Attribute?" Diego’s eyes widened.

"Yes, but that’s not that important right now." Miles chuckled. "I think I need you to really go to the Seers, this time."

"Uhm... Okay? But what about you?"

"Me?" Miles smirked. "I’m going to test it when dawn breaks."