If Cursed Energy is compared to the oil that drives a machine, an Innate Cursed Technique user is like a machine with a built-in core, and the method of using a Cursed Technique is like the machine's operating system.
Then, for conventional Jujutsu Sorcerers, activating a Cursed Technique is just a simple process of "injecting oil and inputting commands." The Innate Cursed Technique is imprinted in their body from birth, like a pre-installed system; they only need to mobilize Cursed Energy to run it smoothly.
But for Rin, copying a Cursed Technique with the Sharingan was far from easy.
This might be the most fundamental difference between Ninjutsu and Cursed Techniques.
Based on his deduction, the underlying logic of Cursed Techniques is often more complex than that of Ninjutsu. This doesn't mean Cursed Techniques are stronger, but that their operating mode is more dependent on "individual-specific" adaptability.
However, conventional Jujutsu Sorcerers do not notice this because their Innate Cursed Technique is perfectly compatible with their own Cursed Energy system, like a key and a lock, functioning without the need for thought.
This is like a ninja's chakra nature. A ninja who only possesses Wind-style chakra can only drive Wind-style Ninjutsu; if they forcefully input a Lightning-style Ninjutsu command, it will only lead to the collapse of the technique.
It is precisely because of this that Kakashi could become the "Copy Ninja." He possessed chakra of multiple natures, like mastering multiple machines adapted for different Ninjutsu, which allowed him to copy and smoothly use thousands of Ninjutsu.
In the battle just now, Rin finally figured out the core difference between Cursed Techniques and Ninjutsu: chakra nature cannot be copied by the Sharingan, but the "operating logic" of an Innate Cursed Technique can be.
In other words, the Sharingan can completely replicate someone else's Cursed Technique (the exclusive machine) and "transport" it into Rin's own body.
In fact, the moment the Long-Haired Cursed Spirit activated its Cursed Technique, Rin's Sharingan had already captured the entire method of using the Silk Binding Cursed Technique, including the flow path of Cursed Energy and the control logic of the hair strands, but he couldn't use it immediately at the time.
The reason was simple: his body lacked the "machine" adapted to this Cursed Technique. He had the operating system and the oil, but no hardware to drive.
Just when Rin thought this copy had failed and was preparing to give up, the Sharingan suddenly started operating on its own. It was actually rebuilding a brand-new "hardware" inside Rin's body at a slow but steady speed, which was the Cursed Technique core adapted for the Silk Binding Cursed Technique.
This process was time-consuming, but every step was precise and error-free. It wasn't until the last "part" was assembled that Rin truly gathered all the conditions to activate the Cursed Technique.
Oil: the Cursed Energy reserved in his body.
Machine: the Cursed Technique core replicated by the Sharingan.
Operating System: the Cursed Technique control logic captured by the Sharingan.
This was also why he didn't use the Cursed Technique immediately after copying it, but instead delayed until the Long-Haired Cursed Spirit couldn't move. He wasn't sure if this "replicated hardware" could function normally, so he had to wait until the Cursed Spirit was completely powerless to try; otherwise, one mistake could land him in danger.
It seems now that the Sharingan can indeed copy Cursed Techniques, just not with the "copy-and-use-immediately" ease of Ninjutsu; it requires an adaptation process.
Rin speculated that the higher the grade of the Cursed Technique and the more complex the logic, the greater the difficulty of copying and adapting.
But for him now, this was already incredible news. He finally possessed a third way to become stronger, besides the Sharingan and devouring Cursed Spirits.
In the corner of the hallway, Geto Suguru and Miguel were already stunned.
"Suguru... what exactly is going on?"
Miguel rubbed his bald head, his tone full of disbelief. "He can copy other people's Cursed Technique? Is that reasonable? The 'devouring Cursed Spirits' and 'Ocular Technique Insight' he showed before have absolutely nothing to do with this copying ability!"
He turned to look at Geto Suguru beside him, only to find that the other man had already shifted from shock to ecstasy. Geto Suguru's breathing was rapid, and even the bottom of his eyes glowed with excitement.
Without waiting for Miguel to say anything else, Geto Suguru suddenly reached out, gripped Miguel's broad palm tightly, his tone firm to the point of trembling.
"Forget about whether it's reasonable, Miguel!" His voice was full of irrepressible excitement. "Did you see that? He can copy Cursed Techniques! With this ability, our plan... our plan might finally be possible!"
"Quick! Follow him! We absolutely cannot let him get hurt!"
Before he finished speaking, Geto Suguru rushed in the direction Rin had left, his black uniform leaving an afterimage in the hallway.
Miguel was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed. He had never seen Geto Suguru lose his composure like this, but he also understood that the boy named Rin might truly become the key to changing the fate of the Star Plasma Cult.
Rin's destination was the school playground.
This was where the Cursed Spirits first appeared, and it was currently where the largest number of Cursed Spirits were gathered. A rough count revealed there were over a dozen.
The playground was in chaos; several Grade 3 Cursed Spirits were tearing at each other, sharp claws ripping open the bodies of their own kind, dark purple blood splattering onto the plastic track.
There were also a few Cursed Spirits feasting on the long-cold corpses of humans. The "crunching" sound of teeth chewing on bones echoed across the empty playground, a scene bloody enough to chill one's heart.
In a corner outside the circle of Cursed Spirits, a few surviving students were scattered.
Chika lay next to the body of a classmate. Her originally white sportswear was already soaked in blood, but her body was frozen, not daring to move an inch.
Intense fear made her shoulders tremble uncontrollably, tears had long blurred her vision, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly, but she dared not make a sound, only biting her lip hard to suppress her desperate sobs.
She still didn't understand what had happened.
As an ordinary person without Cursed Energy, she couldn't see anything, only knowing that a group of invisible monsters was tearing her running classmates into pieces.
She and a few classmates hid behind a pile of corpses and had luckily survived until now.
During this time, it wasn't as if no brave students had tried to run, but the moment one ran a few steps, they were pierced through the chest by the sharp claws of a Cursed Spirit. Since then, no one dared to move a muscle.
Just as Chika was about to be swallowed by despair, the corner of her eye suddenly caught a figure slowly walking towards the playground.
Tears made it hard for her to see the person's appearance, and she couldn't even tell their gender. She could only vaguely see that the person was tall and slender, like a poplar tree facing the wind, exuding a resilience that was out of place with the surrounding chaos.
That person seemed to have extremely long hair, draped behind them, swaying gently with their steps.
Watching the figure draw closer, Chika's heart tightened sharply. She wanted to loudly warn the person to "leave quickly," but she was afraid of startling the nearby Cursed Spirits, so she could only pray frantically in her heart.
But that figure did not stop; instead, they walked step by step towards the center of the playground, getting closer and closer to those man-eating monsters.
Rin stood at the edge of the playground, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic Cursed Spirits.
Among the dozen or so Cursed Spirits, most were weaker Grade 3 Cursed Spirits, but two Second-Grade Cursed Spirits were particularly conspicuous:
One was a Three-Headed Snake Cursed Spirit. The snake tongues on its three heads flicked frantically, making a "hissing" sound. Each head aimed at a different target, occasionally spitting dark green venom that corroded small pits into the ground wherever it landed.
The other was a Flesh Ball Cursed Spirit covered in sharp spikes. It was two meters in diameter, charging around like a spiked cannonball. Any Cursed Spirit that got close to it would have its skin torn by the spikes, and dark green blood would drip continuously along the spikes.
The plastic track was full of messy footprints and the remains of Cursed Spirits, and the air was filled with a thick smell of blood and rot, chaotic and bloody.
But all of this stopped abruptly when Rin approached.
The strange human Cursed Energy acted like an invisible signal, causing the Cursed Spirits that were killing each other to stop instantly.
They slowly raised their heads, their turbid eyes flashing with bloodthirsty red light, all locking onto Rin.
Although they had just been fighting each other, in the face of this sudden threat, these Cursed Spirits rarely reached a "consensus against the outsider." Perhaps in their eyes, this human walking alone was more delicious than the flesh of their own kind.
The bodies of the Cursed Spirits tensed, their muscles trembling slightly, and low roars issued from their throats, as if passing on a "hunt" signal.
The entire playground was shrouded in an oppressive silence, as if even the wind had stopped.
But Rin's footsteps did not pause in the slightest; he continued to move forward steadily.
If it were ten minutes ago, even with the Double Tomoe Sharingan, he would never have dared to face over a dozen Cursed Spirits alone. But things were different now; not only had he mastered the Silk Binding Cursed Technique, but he had also figured out the weaknesses of the Cursed Spirits during the previous battle. More importantly, his Cursed Energy had increased a bit more after devouring the Mantis Cursed Spirit.
Unknowingly, he had already walked to Chika's side.
It was already afternoon, and the setting sun was slowly falling. The golden afterglow sprinkled on the playground, coating the bloody scene with a strange, warm light.
The breeze lifted the corner of Rin's clothes. He stopped, his expression gradually becoming serious, and his breathing slowly leveled out.
In the next second, Rin's slender fingers began to dance nimbly. His fingertips brushed through the air, and he quickly formed a Cursed Seal that had never been seen before.
As the Cursed Seal was completed, the Cursed Energy in his body began to mobilize at an astonishing speed. The long hair that had been draped behind him suddenly moved without wind, and several strands intertwined and wrapped around each other, finally forming eight small black braids the thickness of chopsticks.
This was a "pre-set Cursed Seal" he had researched based on the characteristics of the Silk Binding Cursed Technique on his way to the playground. It was equivalent to the buildup before throwing a stone, allowing the Cursed Technique to erupt in a faster and stronger posture.
After the Finger Seals were completed, Rin lowered his head and glanced at Chika, who was lying on the ground.
Only then did Chika see the appearance of the person in front of her. The dim yellow sunlight fell on his face; it was a boy of about her own age.
His facial contours were distinct, his skin had a pale, malnourished pallor, and his cheekbones slightly protruded, making his deeply sunken eyes appear even more profound, like deep pools in a cold night, pitch-black and bottomless.
His gaze swept over her indifferently, as if he felt no ripples at the blood and clamor on the playground.
"Get up, it's okay."
A cold voice suddenly entered Chika's ears, carrying an unquestionable calmness. "Take this chance and leave here quickly."
Chika stared blankly at Rin, tears still hanging on her face, and for a long time, she didn't react. This boy, who looked about the same age as her, actually told her to leave? Was he not afraid of those monsters?
Rin did not wait for her response; after speaking, he turned around and looked back at the Cursed Spirits in the center of the playground.
And those Cursed Spirits could no longer hold back.
The first to launch an attack was the Flesh Ball Cursed Spirit covered in spikes. Its body was huge, but its speed was astonishingly fast, like an out-of-control high-speed tank, slamming towards Rin. The plastic track was crushed by it, leaving a deep trail.
Driven by it, the other dozen or so Cursed Spirits also let out earth-shattering roars and charged towards Rin together, dark green saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, their eyes full of greed.
Only the Three-Headed Snake Cursed Spirit remained at the back, its six greenish eyes staring fixedly at Rin, flashing with cunning light, as if waiting for the best opportunity to sneak attack.