Android 17 fell into deep thought for a moment.
Truthfully, the prospect of getting stronger naturally appealed to him.
Given the terrifying display of power Alex had just shown, 17 had no doubt the man possessed the absolute strength required to teach him.
However, since he didn’t know Alex’s true motives, he didn’t dare agree so easily.
He was wary of falling into some kind of trap.
Seeing his prolonged silence, Alex smiled faintly.
“If you have any doubts, feel free to ask.”
“I want to know why you’re trying to take me as a disciple,” 17 demanded, his eyes narrowing.
“What’s your motive?
What do you get out of this?”
Alex knew 17 was sharp.
He wasn’t an absolute battle maniac like Goku, who would blindly ignore all red flags as long as he got to fight and get stronger.
Alex kept smiling.
“The reason is simple.
I intend to have my disciples spread across the entire universe.
You and Goku are my prime candidates.”
17 was genuinely taken aback.
“Goku is your disciple too?”
“That’s right.
He is currently training inside the Super Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
By the time he steps out, he will have reached an entirely new level.” Alex paused, locking eyes with the android.
“If you’re still worried, you can wait for Goku to come out and ask him yourself.”
17 pondered this for a long moment.
“No need.
I believe you.”
He knew that if he actually waited to verify the story with Goku, it would mean he was chickening out.
If he acted like a coward and still joined later, Alex would inevitably look down on him.
Besides, deep down, he was already leaning heavily toward accepting the offer.
Therefore, there was no need to ask.
Even if he did, he’d do it secretly, behind Alex’s back.
“In that case, what should you be calling me right now?” Alex teased.
17 bowed his head respectfully.
“Master.”
“Ding!
Congratulations to the host for successfully taking Android 17 as a disciple.” “Rewarding: 2 Billion Base Power Level, Omni-Directional Energy Absorption, Regenerative Mechanical Cells, and God Ki * 1.” “Current Host Base Power Level: 20 Billion.”
Alex was mildly surprised to receive another stack of God Ki.
But what were Omni-Directional Energy Absorption and Regenerative Mechanical Cells?
He quickly pulled up their descriptions.
Omni-Directional Energy Absorption: A specialized Android technique.
The user projects an energy barrier with their hands, enveloping themselves completely.
The barrier can absorb energy attacks from all directions, and the user can freely move while the absorption is active.
Once implanted into an Android’s body, it grants the ability to regenerate missing parts, providing extreme survivability.
Looking at the descriptions, Alex couldn’t help but think: ‘Weren’t these practically tailor-made for 17?’
17 already possessed an energy absorption barrier, but he was completely immobilized while using it—a fatal flaw in high-speed combat.
The Omni-Directional version completely nullified that weakness.
Being able to move while absorbing meant he wouldn’t just be a sitting duck for enemy follow-up attacks.
As for the Regenerative Mechanical Cells, it was a god-tier loadout for a cyborg.
As long as the core cells weren’t utterly vaporized, the user could regenerate.
For 17, who already had an infinite energy reactor, adding regenerative cells essentially gave him pseudo-immortality.
Alex decided to learn the absorption technique himself first before passing it on.
‘System, learn Omni-Directional Energy Absorption!’
“Ding!
Omni-Directional Energy Absorption learned!”
Alex pulled himself from his thoughts.
“17, since you have taken me as your master, I will now teach you a new way to absorb energy…”
Before Alex could finish his sentence, 17 raised an eyebrow and replied with a hint of amusement, “Master Alex, I’ve known how to absorb energy for a long time.
I don’t really need you to teach me that.”
Internally, 17 wondered: ‘Is this all he has to offer?
If that’s the extent of his teachings, did I just make a mistake?’
Alex’s brow twitched slightly.
He stood up and turned his back to 17.
“I am well aware that you can absorb energy.
However, your current absorption barrier is severely flawed.
While maintaining it, you cannot move.”
He looked back over his shoulder.
“That immobility is a fatal weakness.
The absorption technique I am going to teach you allows for full mobility while active.”
What?!
Full mobility during absorption?
How was that even possible?!
17 had spent years trying to solve the immobility issue of his barrier, hitting a brick wall every single time.
He had eventually concluded that it was simply impossible due to how his energy circuitry worked.
But now, Alex was telling him he could absorb and move simultaneously.
The man was casually offering him the solution to an impossible problem he had obsessed over for years.
17 stared at him in utter shock.
“Is that actually true?” 17 asked, finding it hard to believe.
This wasn’t a minor tweak; it was a fundamental breakthrough that completely blew his mind.
He had to be absolutely sure.
Alex turned fully back around, articulating each word carefully.
You will retain full mobility while actively absorbing incoming attacks.”
“I call this technique the Omni-Directional Energy Absorption.
The core principle is similar to your original barrier, forming a spherical shield around you.
As long as the barrier isn’t shattered by an attack exceeding its threshold, it will continuously absorb everything thrown at it.”
17 was even more stunned.
It wasn’t just an energy absorption tool; it doubled as an absolute defense mechanism.
That was terrifyingly overpowered.
Without exaggeration, mastering this would grant him an impregnable defense.
Seeing the normally stoic android repeatedly left speechless, Alex smiled.
“Let’s skip the idle chatter and get started.”
The two of them flew out of the wooden cabin, landing in a wide, open clearing in the forest.
“I will explain the theory first,” Alex began.
“Omni-Directional Energy Absorption does exactly what it says: it catches ki blasts and energy waves from all angles and converts them into your own internal power, temporarily boosting your reserves.
Because Androids operate on internal energy reactors rather than bio-ki, this technique has the highest compatibility and efficiency when used by someone like you…”
After half an hour of detailed explanation, 17 had completely grasped the complex theory behind the technique.
“You’ve digested the theoretical concepts,” Alex said.
“Now, try executing it yourself.”
“Understood!”
17 didn’t waste any time.
He floated a few meters forward, altering his internal energy circuitry to match the theoretical framework Alex had just outlined, cleanly overriding his original barrier program.
He carefully stabilized his energy output.
He thrust both hands outward.
“Activate!”
Vwoom!
A surge of translucent green energy erupted from his palms, rapidly expanding outward into a glowing spherical barrier that completely encased his body.
The Omni-Directional Energy Absorption shield was online.
Without pausing, 17 immediately attempted a high-speed dash.
However, he barely made it seven or eight meters before the energy barrier flickered and shattered into sparks.
Watching from the ground, Alex called out, “Don’t rush it.
You need to adapt slowly.
Trying a high-speed burst on your first attempt destabilizes the energy output.
Start with low-speed movements and adjust the calibration.”
17 immediately recalibrated and tried again.
“Activate!”
The glowing green barrier reappeared, enveloping him once more.
This time, following Alex’s advice, he started with a slow, controlled hover.
He drifted smoothly for a hundred meters, and the barrier remained perfectly stable.
Gaining confidence, he gradually increased his speed, adapting to the complex energy flow on the fly.
Watching him weave seamlessly through the air above the canopy, Alex couldn’t help but nod in approval.
’17’s natural talent is seriously incredible.
At this rate, it won’t be long before we can move on to the next step!’