In the name of the true god

Chapter 115 Simulation

A monastic order. As the name suggests, it is a religious order that practices rigorous asceticism.

President Frost simply and bluntly considered their actions as asking for trouble, which in a sense wasn't a problem.

But the important thing is...

Suffering should be purposeful, and not simply a matter of having masochistic tendencies or forcing oneself to endure hardship.

So, what exactly led these wizards, who claim to have seen through the mysteries of the Law of Contact, to embark on this path that is incomprehensible to the world, and even to their own kind?

"What did they do?" Jude asked.

"I've encountered them a few times before," Chairman Frost said candidly, trying to keep Jude wary of the Penitentiary Order. "These people never stay in one place for long; it seems they'll keep moving forward as long as they're alive—"

No one knows how many members the monastic order has.

They sought neither fame nor fortune, relying on begging along the way to spread their footprints all over the world.

And during this long journey, they will also take on the suffering of others and bear it for them.

It sounds quite similar to the ascetic that Jude knew somewhat from his previous life.

Ascetics temper their will through prolonged fasting and abstinence from water, enduring scorching heat and bitter cold, and a series of extreme self-tortures, ultimately seeking spiritual liberation through physical hardship.

However, the two are fundamentally different.

The sorcerers of the penitent order truly have the ability to "transfer" the illnesses and sorrows of others to themselves, and live up to their name by bearing suffering as they go.

"—In short, this group is completely different from what we pursue. If we are 'heretics,' then they are the most heretical of the heretics." Chairman Frost scoffed at the Ascetic Order's practices. "If you ever run into them again, remember to stay away from them."

Jude, too, didn't quite understand the Ascetic Order's actions, but he also couldn't find a suitable angle to belittle their good intentions, so he refrained from commenting: "Don't worry. I'm a Resonance Sorcerer; even if I wanted to go in, they wouldn't allow it."

President Frost was somewhat relieved.

Jude then asked what he was most concerned about: "Vincent Monroe also said that the entanglement wizards in the monastic order claimed to have seen through the mysteries of the Law of Contact, so do they really have a high level of expertise in the Law of Contact?"

"Ha, if they really understood the mysteries of the Law of Contact, why hasn't another wizard of Edmund's caliber appeared?" President Frost answered with a question.

"That's true—" Jude couldn't refute it for a moment.

but----

He thought about it carefully.

Causal intervention on different timelines and causal entanglement in the law of contact seem to be two different things.

If there's an opportunity in the future, I can still make appropriate contact with the monastic order and ask them relevant questions in the capacity of a wizard.

It would be best if there were any gains.

There was no gain, but no loss either.

Jude, well aware of the principle of taking things one step at a time, still held the Ascetic Order in high regard and asked the second question: "Master, would you be willing to explain the second major level of the Law of Similarity to me in detail?"

"You're still at level one, right?"

"Yes."

"There's no need to learn advanced knowledge too early," President Frost said. "Remember, you can't rush the advancement of your rank; you must take it one step at a time, steadily and practically. Otherwise, if things get out of control or backfire, no one can save you."

"I understand," Jude said, offering a compelling reason. "I just want to prepare for the future."

"after?"

"The rescue is complete, and the Divine Descent Society must immediately depart from the capital. Without you here, if I need to advance to the fourth tier in the future..."

"The sorcerer, having prior knowledge of the second level, can make things much easier."

"Hehe————" President Frost couldn't help but chuckle.

He inherited the Law of Similarity at the age of twenty-four. He advanced to the second rank at twenty-five, the third rank at twenty-seven, and the fourth rank at thirty-six. Now he has been stuck at the fourth rank for more than five years.

Even so, he is already one of the best among Resonance Warlocks.

Jude will only turn twenty-one in September, so becoming a Resonance Mage will take no more than two months at most.

Even if he returned with the Descent of Gods two years later in the year of the Descent of Gods, he would still have plenty of time to teach him the knowledge of the second level of the Law of Similarity.

Can--

President Frost's smile faded.

Fleeing is no child's play; facing the Holy Church's pursuit and interception, no one knows what will happen.

What if I die?

It's pointless to take this knowledge to the grave.

"—Alright, I'll tell you." After careful consideration, he finally agreed to Jude's request. "The second major level of the law of similarity is called imitation." Essentially, the first major level of "imitation" is resonance. The second major level...

The "simulation" is the resonance process.

'

Jude felt a slight tremor in his heart.

The basic logic of imitation and simulation is exactly the same as his analysis with Edmund last night!

Guild Master Frost deliberately slowed his speech to allow Jude to process the information: "At this level, resonance sorcerers can utilize the inherent laws of simulating certain 'behaviors' or processes to acquire even greater power."

Behavior, process —

The inherent laws —

Jude seemed a little confused: "Could you give me a more concrete example?"

"Then let me give you two different examples," Chairman Frost explained in detail. "First, if you put a person who has imitated the abilities of a cheetah together with a pure cheetah, who do you think would survive?"

"Humans," Jude said without hesitation. "They have similar abilities, but humans are smarter and can better utilize the environment to assess the situation and formulate strategies to deal with the enemy."

"No. The cheetah is stronger," Chairman Frost concluded, offering the opposite conclusion. "We resonated with the cheetah's speed..."

Strength, but ultimately it's wielded through human thought. The cheetah, however, can fully utilize its innate hunting instincts to unleash its full potential.

"So—at the second level, the Resonance Warlock masters the hunting instincts by simulating the hunting process of a cheetah."

"Can you?" Jude summarized the key points, "The difference between imitation and simulation is that the former is an external manifestation of ability, while the latter is an internal thought process."

Jude's first thought was that the Resonance Warlock had lost control.

Based on past cases, when a Resonance Warlock loses control, their consciousness is gradually replaced by the target they are imitating, and in a sense, they completely become the target.

Doesn't this also equate to having a goal-oriented mindset?

However, this kind of thinking is uncontrollable, while simulation seems to be able to perfectly integrate one's consciousness with this kind of thinking.

"Not only that," President Frost continued, "A second example. Suppose a doctor is performing surgery on an injured person, what is surgery?"

"Behavior?"

"That's right." President Frost was very satisfied with Jude's comprehension, and then said more bluntly, "After reaching the second level, you will be able to truly have the ability to treat the injured by simulating the actions of a doctor performing surgery."

Holy crap—

Can you really possess the corresponding abilities just by putting on a show?!

This sounds like it's much stronger than the "transmission" damage from a high-level entanglement wizard!

Jude subconsciously recalled his past life. If he had the Law of Similarity, he could easily "imitate" a top student and get into a prestigious university!

"This is the essence of simulation." Chairman Frost noticed Jude's shock. "Imitate the external resonance, simulate the internal resonance."

"That's really impressive—" Jude's mind was filled with countless ideas.

Simulate a sharpshooter and acquire top-notch marksmanship with unerring accuracy.

A painter with superb painting skills.

Could simulating a hunter make observing animals much more efficient?

That----

He couldn't help but have another extremely crazy idea pop into his head.

What about simulating gods?

Um--

Gods are mysterious and unpredictable, impossible to observe.

wrong!

If the law of contact is strong enough, it can hear what it hears, see what it sees, and feel what it feels!

If one has the opportunity to meet someone who has seen a god in person, or simply uses the elemental power given to a priest by the god to indirectly connect with the god, is it possible to glimpse the true face of the god and then imitate or simulate it?

hiss----

That's insane!

Even with the ability to try, Jude wouldn't dare to rashly make a move against the gods.

"For more specific details, you'll have to observe, understand, and try it yourself." Chairman Frost folded up the floor plan of the capital's heavy prison. "Any other questions?"

Jude abandoned his far-fetched conjectures and quickly pressed on, "Imitation is mastered through observation. What about simulation? Is that also observation?"

"Yes, but the logic of observation and imitation are reversed. Imitation is about immersing yourself in the target and observing the target's behavior. Simulation is about understanding the target's behavior and immersing yourself in it."

"Do you know what the third level of the law of similarity is?"

"I don't know." Guild Master Frost shook his head, a hint of longing in his eyes. "Perhaps no Resonance Mage has ever reached that level."

"Then how do you know that the law of similarity has three levels?"

"Hehe—" Guild Master Frost grinned, his smile somewhat unpleasant. "When I consulted the senior, why didn't I think of this question? Anyway, since Edmund could become a seventh-tier Resonance Wizard, Resonance Sorcerers should also have a seventh tier, that is, the third major level."

"Understood."

It's getting late.

Chairman Frost, who had cleared up many of Jude's doubts, got up from the sofa: "You should rest now, I need to find the exit of the tunnel as soon as possible."

"Okay." Jude saw Frost to the door, watched him leave, and then excitedly returned to the living room to pace around.

To track, to transmit.

To imitate or simulate.

The first two levels of the contact law and the similarity law are already unimaginably strong.

What about the third level?

Thinking this, Jude became even more certain that Edmund could not possibly die so easily.

With his seventh-tier ability to influence wizards, even the Holy Church was helpless. Leonard, a mere mortal, was able to...

With hundreds or even thousands of elite guards lying in ambush, they should only be able to take a beating.

There must be more to the ambush that took place in May of the 427th year of the Divine Calendar!

8:40 a.m.

Knowing that it would be difficult to find out the past in a short time, Jude devoted all his energy to training the laws of contact and similarity until he was exhausted after working overtime. Only then did he take a bath and go back to bed to sleep soundly.

7:35 PM.

Special prison building and temporary rest room for prison guards.

"Okay, okay, I'll be right there." Allen hung up the phone from the priest, said goodbye to Captain Foster, and hurried to the heresy ward to play cards.

The poet Anders had a sore throat and held the book of poems, reciting them silently in his mind.

Out of sheer boredom, the vain Colin asked Jude about his gossip with Melanie: "Jude, I saw you going to see Melanie the other day? You two, are you—"

Jude, who was about to catch up on sleep under the pretext of working the night shift, casually made an excuse: "I just have some work-related matters to report."

"Oh dear, it's just some work-related stuff to report—who would believe that?" Colin mimicked Jude's tone, "Tell me quickly, how far have you two gotten?"

"Captain." Jude didn't bother to explain and directly tattled.

Captain Foster's gaze fell upon them.

Colin immediately admitted, "Okay, okay, I won't ask anymore."

Having regained his peace, Jude lay on the bench, closed his eyes, and pondered.

By this time tomorrow, Allen should have already poisoned two priests in the heretical prison and is opening the cell doors one by one, leading a group of implicated wizards and resonators to escape through the tunnels.

So fast!

Looking back on the past month or so, it feels like a dream.

Wishing you all the best —

I should start a new life after the rescue is over.

What should I do then?

Applying for a zookeeper job at the zoo to take the opportunity to observe those rare and exotic animals for a long time?

Or perhaps you could hire Stefan Nolan and work as a private investigator with him?

Hmm, both sound good; they'll all be very helpful in improving my understanding of the laws of contact and similarity.

Then the usual rule applies, I want them all!

Having learned about the abilities of fourth-tier entanglement wizards and fourth-tier resonance sorcerers, Jude's desire to advance his rank soared to unprecedented heights.

Midnight is the fixed time to empty the sewage bucket.

"Does the sewage bucket need emptying?" Jude asked, approaching Vincent Monroe's cell, seizing one last question before parting. "Among the wizards and resonance sorcerers who followed Edmund back then, are there any key figures you know? And do you know where they are now?"

To find out why Edmund disappeared for more than half a year in the 426th year of the Divine Calendar, and why the organization suddenly disbanded in the 427th year of the Divine Calendar, starting with Edmund's former companions is undoubtedly the most feasible approach.

Unfortunately, Vincent Monroe had been imprisoned in the capital's heavy prison twenty years ago.

The information he possessed was of extremely limited value.

However limited his access may be, he was still the only person Jude could currently contact who had fought alongside Edmund against the Holy Church. Even if the information was outdated, hearing it was still much better than knowing nothing at all.

On Tuesday, November 13th, 448 AD (the year of the Divine Religion), at 7:00 AM.

There are about twelve hours left before the divine intervention begins the rescue operation.

During his final emptying of the sewage bins before his shift change, Jude returned to the Heretic Block.

Vincent Monroe answered his question: "Edmund had six or seven right-hand men, but strangely—these people haven't shown their faces since Edmund disbanded the organization. Even after Edmund's public execution, when many implicated wizards and resonance sorcerers spontaneously came to his rescue, I didn't see them among the rescuers—"