Rivals Team Up to Fight Monsters in the Wasteland

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In the wasteland era, some humans awakened soul cards and became known as espers.

There are two kinds of soul cards: red battle cards, which have powerful attacks but are easily infected, and blue purification cards, which can remove contamination but are extremely fragile.

Espers of these two types must sign a cooperative contract before joining a legion and entering contaminated zones to fight.

*

Qi Wu is a wandering spirit, brought back to life by a little yellow duck and returned to the wasteland.

But there's a catch: she has only six months to live before she croaks.

Qi Wu: ...So I was revived just to die again?

Her lifesaving duck says: Don't panic, there's still hope!

Here's how to extend her life:

Collect the soul cards of deceased espers and help their spirits pass on. She'll gain a corresponding amount of life, such as one day...

Question: How many one-day extensions does it take to live a hundred years?

Qi Wu doesn't dare think about it. Qi Wu lies flat on the spot. Qi Wu is just waiting to die.

Then she hears about a certain mausoleum, where nearly a century's worth of soul cards are preserved in considerable numbers. It's the perfect shortcut for topping up her lifespan all at once.

Qi Wu stops slacking off and decides to pay the place a "visit."

What? She has to become a legion commander to get inside?

With tears in her eyes, Qi Wu is forced to embark on a life of endless striving.

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Step one: Join a legion.

Prerequisite: Have a contract partner.

Qi Wu awakens a wood-type battle card. Based on the card's traits, the System selects the candidate most compatible with her:

A proper, germophobic young nobleman whom Qi Wu once pinned forcefully against a wall.

The moment she sees the result, Qi Wu turns around and apologizes:

"I'm sorry. I was too rough with you before. Let's forget the past, make up, and head toward a bright future together."

The young man: "..."

*

Step two: Extend her life like crazy and survive until the day she becomes commander.

A deranged wanted criminal who specializes in killing espers appears? Qi Wu helps capture him, then secretly picks up the cards and gains six more months of life...

Someone is targeting male espers? Qi Wu uses her partner as bait, then secretly picks up the cards and gains three more days...

A contaminated zone is full of unrecovered soul cards? Qi Wu declares:

I'm willing to venture into danger and contribute to humanity's future!

*

Step three: Work hard, make a good impression, and wait for a promotion.

What? The legion fell?

Qi Wu (expressionless) (picking up a shovel): It was about time.

[Content warnings]

1. Plot-focused, not a power fantasy. The protagonist grows over time, has her shining moments, and also goes through low points.

2. The main group consists of three women and one man. They are teenagers in the earlier chapters and only become adults later.

3. There is a male lead, physically and emotionally pure. At first, he is entirely focused on keeping his distance from the heroine. Later, he goes to great lengths to cling to her. He's the taciturn, devoted husband type who never says what he really feels.

Theme: Work together and never give up.