[QT] The Villains Are All My Reserve Food - Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Little Kitten 17

The moment their Supernatural Abilities vanished, panic erupted. Overwhelming fear and unease gripped them, and some even turned on each other in infighting.

Who said Bo Shang was in a weakened state, ripe for attack? The bastard just stole all our abilities!

Terrified, they knelt on the ground, trembling. Without their Supernatural Abilities, what could they rely on?

Someone remembered Gu Haotian’s ability to steal abilities and roared, “Didn’t you say stealing abilities only works when you’re near death? How did Bo Shang take ours so easily?!”

Gu Haotian was just as shocked and anguished, unable to comprehend the situation. They had tried to kill Bo Shang, seize his power, and close the gate, but their attack had not only failed to kill him but had also cost them their greatest advantage.

Drenched in cold sweat, his face pale, Gu Haotian forced himself to look up, glaring fiercely at Bo Shang. His voice hoarse with righteous fury, he accused, “You brought the apocalypse! You caused this disaster and drove us to this point! How dare you steal our abilities? They were ours! Don’t be so heartless and cruel!”

The others struggled to agree. Without their Supernatural Abilities, how could they possibly fight the zombies?

Bo Shang said, “You all wanted me to close the Otherworld Gate, but I didn’t want to die. So I devised another method: I reclaimed your Supernatural Abilities to use as energy to seal the gate. This way, no one has to die. Isn’t that in the best interest of the majority?”

The Ability Users’ faces darkened. “Our Supernatural Abilities are ours! How dare you steal them without our consent? Without them, we’ll be eaten by zombies! You’re trying to kill us!”

Bo Shang countered, “Did you ask for my consent when you tried to kill me?”

The Ability Users remained defiant. They argued that their actions had been a necessary choice. Bo Shang’s death alone could end the apocalypse—what fault was there in that?

Bo Shang pressed further, “You know how the apocalypse began, but have you ever considered where your Supernatural Abilities came from?”

The question stunned the Ability Users. When they first gained their powers, they had been overjoyed at their newfound ability to protect themselves. But they had never truly pondered the origin of these abilities.

Bo Shang calmly explained, “The reason I could so easily take away your Supernatural Abilities is because they were originally mine. I’m simply reclaiming what belongs to me. With this energy, I can fulfill your wish and close the Otherworld Gate. Are you satisfied with this good news?”

Satisfied? Satisfied, my ass!

No one had ever imagined that their Supernatural Abilities were the result of Bo Shang’s blood, which had flowed through the Otherworld Gate, combined with Otherworld creatures, and parasitized their bodies, causing mutations. Having gained and then lost their powers, they were plunged into extreme terror.

Although closing the Otherworld Gate would control the zombie population and cause the Otherworld creatures to gradually weaken and die off as they lost contact with their home planet, eventually reducing the zombie count to zero, this wouldn’t happen instantly. The zombies wouldn’t vanish overnight. How were they supposed to survive during that interim period?

Sacrificing Bo Shang alone could save the entire world.

This choice was undeniably cruel, but after some hesitation, they mostly agreed. They told themselves it was unavoidable, that it was for the best for everyone, and that others would make the same choice.

However, when the option of sacrifice fell upon them, they panicked, terrified and utterly unwilling. The apocalypse was ending, but they might be eaten by zombies before the world returned to normal. If they died, what good would the world’s restoration be? What would it matter to them?

The mere thought of becoming the person they had once seen being devoured by zombies—a fate that could soon be their own—drove them to the brink of madness. They couldn’t accept it.

They refused, begging Bo Shang to return their Supernatural Abilities.

But Bo Shang refused.

He said, “Ability Users are a minority. By combining your powers, we can close the Otherworld Gate, end the apocalypse, and ensure the survival of all humanity. Isn’t that a good thing?”

From a purely utilitarian perspective, it was indeed a good thing.

To close the gate, not a single person would even die—a perfect maximization of efficiency.

But their Supernatural Abilities were gone just like that. These abilities were their only means of self-preservation. They might not even survive until the apocalypse ended and their powers returned. Who would willingly accept such a fate?

Sacrifice the individual for the greater good.

It sounded noble.

But when it came to making such a selfless sacrifice themselves, could they truly do it willingly?

Their inner turmoil was no longer Bo Shang’s concern. He led Su Tang to the laboratory, where he expended the vast majority of his power to seal the Otherworld Gate.

After completing this task, Bo Shang’s face was deathly pale, and he leaned weakly against Su Tang for support.

Su Tang held Bo Shang close, maintaining an uncharacteristic silence throughout.

In the apocalypse, under extreme circumstances, morality and laws crumbled, and the flaws of human nature were laid bare.

The sight of people turning on each other was always difficult to bear.

And these people had been targeting Bo Shang.

Su Tang naturally stood by Bo Shang without hesitation, but witnessing these events still left him uneasy.

Was this resolution truly just? Was it the best possible outcome?

Su Tang couldn’t reach a conclusion, yet his heart clearly favored one side. Now that Bo Shang wouldn’t die, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, he recalled the scene from earlier.

Bo Shang was in a weakened state, yet he seemed to handle the combined assault of so many Ability Users with relative ease. Why, then, in the original plot, had the male lead been able to kill Bo Shang single-handedly?

As Su Tang pondered this question, the System sensed his thoughts and quietly murmured, “At that time, he probably didn’t want to live anymore.”

Su Tang fell into an even deeper silence.

Throughout his life, Bo Shang had been an orphan, captured and subjected to experiments in a laboratory. After more than a decade, he finally escaped, only to be branded a criminal by others, who hoped his death would end the apocalypse.

He had never experienced a single day of happiness, nor had he ever lived for himself.

He had believed that escaping the laboratory would bring liberation.

But once free, he realized he had no idea what to do.

Having been confined for over a decade, he had forgotten how to live a normal life.

Because living seemed to hold no meaning.

So when someone came to kill him, he felt no strong desire to survive, simply allowing himself to drift toward death.

But in this life, Bo Shang didn’t want to die. He hadn’t lived enough yet. He still wanted to live with Su Tang, to share many ordinary and warm days with him.

Before Su Tang came into his life, Bo Shang had felt indifferent to everything, living like a walking corpse. But Su Tang’s arrival was like a beam of light piercing through the oppressive darkness.

Because of Su Tang, he had rediscovered his love for this world.

So when he had the power to end the apocalypse, he would choose to do so, but only if it didn’t cost him his life.

He understood why those people wanted him to sacrifice himself. Humans naturally seek advantage and avoid harm. This choice aligned with their interests, so they would naturally choose it.

He could understand it, but that didn’t mean he could accept it.

That’s why Bo Shang chose his current method: reclaiming all his Supernatural Abilities and using them to seal the Otherworld Gate.

After completing this task, Bo Shang left the base with Su Tang.

Meanwhile, on the other side…

After losing their Supernatural Abilities, the Ability Users became ordinary humans. The first to experience problems was Ye Feng.

The zombie virus in his body erupted, turning him into a mindless zombie who began attacking and biting those around him.

Terrified, the survivors instinctively tried to use their Supernatural Abilities—a habit ingrained from years of relying on them. But when they realized their powers were gone, they grabbed anything that could serve as a weapon and attacked Ye Feng.

The group retreated toward the base, simultaneously fending off the encroaching zombies.

The base housed many ordinary people who, lacking Supernatural Abilities, were considered second-class citizens in the apocalypse. They were relegated to manual labor, constructing and maintaining the base’s infrastructure.

Though equality was often preached, even in peaceful times, inequalities persisted. In the chaotic and perilous apocalypse, the gap between Ability Users and ordinary people had widened into an unbridgeable chasm.

Ability Users, wielding immense power, enjoyed privileged treatment and held themselves above others. Some with malicious intent exploited their abilities to satisfy their desires, forcibly taking attractive women as concubines under the guise of protection. The power imbalance left ordinary women with no means of resistance.

Now, stripped of their power, these abusive Ability Users had lost their leverage. The women they had once victimized united, unleashing brutal retribution.

No one spoke up for the Ability Users. They had long resented the group, but lacked the strength to challenge them, so they had kept their anger bottled up.

With the removal of the scum among the Ability Users, the remaining survivors began to band together.

This had always been humanity’s strategy against the zombies. Each person contributed their strengths: the physically strong provided brute force, while the strategic thinkers devised plans to kill zombies with minimal losses.

As the Otherworld Gate closed, the zombie virus weakened, making infections from bites increasingly rare. With each zombie killed, the total number dwindled, and with humanity far outnumbering the undead, their complete eradication seemed imminent.

Moreover, the weakened virus meant zombies no longer grew stronger by consuming humans. Instead, their movements became sluggish and predictable, making them easier to defeat.

Hope for the end of the apocalypse ignited in people’s hearts, fueling their determination.

While some united with their comrades to survive together, others inevitably resorted to unscrupulous methods.

After losing his Supernatural Ability, Gu Haotian formed an apocalypse team with his former brothers to fight the zombies.

Without his powerful Dual Fire-Thunder Ability, killing zombies became incredibly difficult. He was easily injured, often ending up battered, covered in grime, and with a gloomy expression, a far cry from his former glory.

During his desperate struggles against the zombies, he couldn’t help but imagine how easily he could resolve the situation with his Supernatural Ability. He wouldn’t need to exert so much effort or risk injury.

Gu Haotian harbored deep resentment toward Bo Shang. Even if Bo Shang was the source of those abilities, what right did he have to reclaim them? The blood, carried by Otherworld creatures, had parasitized others, awakening their Supernatural Abilities. Those abilities now belonged to their hosts.

Moreover, since losing his ability, Gu Haotian had witnessed several former Ability Users fall prey to zombies. If Bo Shang hadn’t taken their powers, they might still be alive. Wouldn’t sacrificing Bo Shang alone have been a worthwhile trade? Now, because of the lost abilities, multiple lives had been lost.

Once, Gu Haotian had believed it was only natural for Bo Shang to be sacrificed for the survival of the group. But now that he was the one without his ability, he felt terrified and resentful, cursing Bo Shang’s cruelty and wishing him a miserable death.

Gu Haotian lived day after day, killing zombies, never imagining he would one day die at the hands of his own teammate.

While scavenging for supplies, a moment of carelessness led to their group being surrounded by a horde of zombies.

As he and his teammates fought desperately against the undead, a hand shoved him forcefully from behind, throwing him into the zombie swarm. His sacrifice bought them time to escape.

The brother he had once protected and saved offered a perfunctory apology before fleeing without a backward glance, abandoning him alone to be devoured by the zombies.

Gu Haotian felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss. He had never imagined being betrayed by a brother he had trusted.

They had supported each other through countless trials, even surviving attacks by massive Zombie Tides. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Gu Haotian couldn’t understand. The brotherhood he had believed in had been built on his powerful Supernatural Ability and his brother’s decent mid-tier ability, which allowed him to protect himself. His brother had followed him because of his strength, clinging to his coattails for survival in the apocalypse.

As the supernatural abilities vanished, the brothers’ worship and awe toward him gradually faded. In the past, when faced with dangerous zombie hordes, they had firmly followed him, confident that his powerful abilities would resolve the situation. But now that he had fallen from his pedestal and become an ordinary man—his combat skills even inferior to those of his athletic brother—the brother, in a moment of crisis, had pushed him forward to save himself.

Gu Haotian’s arm was bitten by a zombie, the pain so excruciating he couldn’t even scream. When he glanced at the creature, he was startled to recognize it. After a moment of recognition, he realized the dress the zombie wore was one Qiao Yuxuan had worn. If he remembered correctly, she had worn this same blue dress on the day they went to confront Bo Shang, though it was now stained black with blood.

The bracelet on the zombie’s wrist served as further proof.

Gu Haotian never imagined he would ultimately be devoured by his zombified ex-girlfriend. Was this retribution for abandoning her to die?

He closed his eyes in agony, his breath ceasing completely.

When Bo Shang withdrew his Supernatural Ability from Deng Hao, he simultaneously placed a protective barrier around him. This barrier made Deng Hao virtually invisible to zombies; unless he deliberately provoked them, they would simply walk past him as if he weren’t there.

Thanks to this shield, Deng Hao and his mother survived the apocalypse until the very last zombie was eradicated. Only then did the barrier disappear.

Deng Qinxin, who had supported sacrificing Bo Shang, became unusually silent after her son’s outburst. Even when her Supernatural Ability was taken away, she didn’t react with the same breakdown and madness as other Ability Users. Perhaps she knew it had never truly belonged to her.

Discovering the barrier protecting Deng Hao only deepened Deng Qinxin’s complex emotions, filling her with overwhelming shame for her own despicable actions. Bo Shang had saved them and even granted her an ability, yet she had declared his sacrifice worthwhile.

She survived, but was trapped in an endless cycle of guilt, tormented by her conscience.

Six months later.

The zombies had all perished, reduced to motionless corpses that were gathered and burned by humans.

With this, the apocalypse officially came to an end.

Humanity had endured a cataclysmic disaster, suffering torment and anguish as if trapped in a living hell.

Yet, having weathered the storm, they stubbornly rose again, rebuilding their ravaged cities. Civilization, morality, and order gradually returned.

In just two years, they had reclaimed their once-thriving cities. Cars flowed like rivers, crowds surged through bustling streets, and people lived busy yet peaceful lives, commuting to school or work daily, packed like sardines on rush-hour buses.

When they occasionally recalled the apocalypse, it felt like a nightmare, an unimaginable horror that had occurred just over two years prior.

Those who doubted their memories would tentatively ask their neighbors, only to be met with fearful glances, as if to say, “Don’t talk about those terrible things. Isn’t it better to cherish the present and live each day to the fullest?”

Yes, cherish the present.

Having survived such a catastrophe, everyone had grown more protective of life. By contrast, they now recognized the beauty and happiness of living in a peaceful era.

With the changing circumstances, people’s needs and thoughts had undergone significant shifts.

Living is such a blessing.

Going to school and work every day is truly wonderful. No more being chased by zombies, no more worrying about when I’ll die. It’s perfect.

Families and friends who had once clashed and quarreled were now moved to tears at the sight of each other alive, as if their past disputes had never occurred. Their relationships had become excessively harmonious.

The media dubbed this year the one with the highest happiness index.

Though it sounded somewhat strange, it was precisely because people had experienced loss that they now cherished the present moment and the people around them even more.

As the apocalypse officially ended, the System’s voice echoed in Su Tang’s mind.

<i>Congratulations, Host! Your mission completion rate has reached 100/100. You can immediately transmigrate to the next world.</i>

Su Tang’s heart skipped a beat. <i>I remember I can choose, right? I can stay!</i>

The System nodded. <i>Yes, everything depends on your choice, Host. You can either proceed to the next world now or remain in this world until you die of natural causes.</i>

Without hesitation, Su Tang chose to stay, remaining by Bo Shang’s side until the end.

In the previous two worlds, the mission completion rate only reached 100% at the very last moment. This time, however, it had been achieved much earlier. According to the System, the completion rate was directly correlated with the villain’s blackened heart’s healing progress. The higher the completion rate, the lower the villain’s internal darkness. Reaching 100% meant that almost all the resentment and bitterness in the villain’s heart had dissipated.

Bo Shang had shed his villainous identity and could now live like an ordinary person.

Su Tang couldn’t help but wonder if the mission’s completion point—the end of the apocalypse and the world’s return to normalcy—proved that Bo Shang’s heart wasn’t as cold and indifferent to others’ survival as the original plot had portrayed. He did have emotions, a warm heart.

Even though he had experienced little kindness throughout his life, he hadn’t completely given up. He fundamentally didn’t want to see the world destroyed.

Those people had misunderstood him. He didn’t have an antisocial personality; he possessed empathy and could emotionally resonate with others.

Su Tang transformed into a small orange cat and leaped onto the sofa. Just as he was about to nimbly climb onto Bo Shang’s lap, Bo Shang reached out and naturally pulled the cat into his arms, burying his face in its fur.

Su Tang instinctively pushed Bo Shang’s face away with his paw, but when he looked up and met Bo Shang’s gentle gaze, he froze. His heart softened, and instead of pushing him away, he indulgently allowed Bo Shang to nuzzle him and stroke his fur.

Bo Shang was surprised. “Tangtang, why are you being so well-behaved today?”

Su Tang glared with his round, clear golden cat eyes, lifting his paw to kick Bo Shang in protest.

You’re my shoveling officer! What’s wrong with me wanting to pamper you a little? Got a problem with that?

Unfortunately, his short Munchkin legs weren’t long enough to reach Bo Shang’s slender forearm.

Su Tang’s cat eyes widened even further.

How humiliating!

I’m furious!

His pointed ears trembled slightly with embarrassment and indignation, making him look utterly adorable.

Bo Shang couldn’t help but laugh. He deliberately placed his hand beneath Su Tang’s paw and said, “Ouch! Tangtang kicked me! It hurts so much!”

So fake!

Do you think you’re fooling a three-year-old?

Do you think someone as wise as me would fall for your tricks?

Su Tang thought haughtily, but his tail wagged excitedly, and his entire body radiated smug satisfaction.

What? I am three years old this year! A genuine three-year-old Meow Meow!

Bo Shang lay on the sofa, a kitten nestled on his chest. He gently pinched its ears, rubbed its paws, and scratched its chin. Just the two of them, man and cat, could spend an entire afternoon in comfortable silence, never feeling bored.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, scattering like shattered gold, dazzling and warm.

Later, Bo Shang coaxed Su Tang to transform back into his human form.

Su Tang, enjoying being held and groomed, pretended not to hear, reluctant to move.

Bo Shang rubbed his ears and said, “I made beef stew, spicy crab, and grilled wings today. It’s such a shame Tangtang can’t eat them as a cat.”

Su Tang’s ears twitched immediately, his cat eyes darting toward the kitchen. He could already smell the aroma and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Without another word, he leaped to the floor and scurried back to the bedroom, his little tail wagging.

Bo Shang watched with a smile and followed.

As he opened the door, he caught a glimpse through the half-open walk-in closet: Su Tang’s slender, pale back, his delicate butterfly bones—quickly hidden by a T-shirt. Beneath loose shorts, his long, shapely legs gleamed dazzlingly white.

Bo Shang was about to ask if Su Tang’s tail felt uncomfortable in those shorts when he suddenly noticed that Su Tang’s cat ears and tail had vanished.

Previously, to avoid his tail being pinched by his waistband, Su Tang had followed Bo Shang’s advice and started wearing only loose, thigh-length T-shirts at home, with nothing underneath, allowing him to relax completely. In a way, this arrangement had been quite convenient for Bo Shang. When Su Tang realized Bo Shang’s ulterior motives, he nearly exploded in anger and tried to bite him to death.

Su Tang ran a hand through his fluffy, slightly wavy hair. Without the pointed ears, he felt a little disoriented. “I think I can control when they appear now,” he said. “That means I don’t have to wear a hat to hide them when I go out. It’s so hot in summer, and hats are uncomfortable.”

Hearing that Su Tang could control their appearance, Bo Shang’s eyebrows relaxed, the regret in his eyes faded, and he smiled. “That’s great.”

That night, as they lay intimately entwined in bed, Bo Shang gently coaxed Su Tang to reveal his ears and tail.

Su Tang’s mind was hazy, his cheeks flushed crimson as if he were drunk. In his dazed state, he obediently complied. The moment his cat ears peeked out, Bo Shang, who had been waiting for this moment, nipped at one. Su Tang gasped, a muffled groan escaping his lips as a tingling sensation coursed through his body. He panted heavily, his chest heaving, sweat beading on his skin.

Finally managing to wriggle free from Bo Shang’s embrace, Su Tang immediately covered his ears and retreated to the side, glaring at him warily. “Pervert! I’ll never fall for that again!”

Bo Shang coaxed him softly, apologizing with sincere sincerity, his attitude impeccably contrite.

Then, he’d repeat the offense the very next time.

In this lifetime, Bo Shang lived the life he had always wanted.

Ordinary, yet profoundly warm.

He became a painter, his art serving both as a pastime and a means to earn money to care for his cat. A single painting could easily fetch millions.

However, the subject he painted most often was his own little orange cat.

The world knew that the renowned painter Bo Shang had a beloved cat. Several of his exhibitions featured the feline as the central theme, always the same cat.

Whether it was munching on dried fish, curled up in a deep slumber, playing with a cat wand, or chasing butterflies, every pose and expression was captured with excessive charm and vitality. Even those who knew nothing about art could immediately sense the painter’s overflowing affection for the little orange cat—it practically spilled off the canvas.

At one exhibition, Bo Shang appeared with the cat in his arms, causing a minor sensation.

What the public didn’t know was that Bo Shang had also created many other works, all featuring the same young man. These paintings were kept at home, for his eyes alone.