Half a year ago, tens of thousands of massive black shadow towers appeared all over the world, floating above cities. Chemists, physicists, religious leaders... all were at a loss.

Six months later, people got used to it and stopped paying attention.

One day, Brian Carter saw a flying insect crash into a shadowy black tower—it couldn't pass through.

The next day, a crisp, childlike voice made an announcement to all of humanity—

'Ding dong! On November 15, 2017, Earth has come online.'

Edward Foster × Brian Carter

The Three Iron Rules of the Black Tower—

① All explanations belong to the Black Tower.

② 6:00–18:00 is game time.

③ All players, please do your best to attack the tower.

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Chapter One

Ding dong! On November 15, 2017, Earth has come online.

When the library opened at nine in the morning, there were already seven or eight people waiting at the door, all elderly with white hair. Today was Monday, unlike weekends when many parents would bring their children to the city library. On weekdays, the only people who usually came were retired seniors.

Outside the library was a world of busy labor; inside, it was silent, with only the soft rustle of pages turning.

By ten o'clock, more people had started to arrive.

Brian Carter sat in front of the computer, helping people check in one by one. His left hand kept entering book numbers on the keyboard, while his right hand clicked the mouse to confirm. After finishing, he looked up. "You've had this book out for almost a month. Haven't finished it yet?"

In front of him was a plainly dressed middle-aged woman. She shook her head with a smile. "No, my son reads slowly. Is it okay to keep a book for a month?"

Brian Carter: "A month is the free period. After that, there's a ten-cent daily fee." He paused, then added, "If the book is lost, you'll have to pay the original price. This one is 82 yuan."

The woman's expression changed. "That expensive... Okay, I'll make that brat finish it today." With that, she turned and left.

Brian Carter watched her stride away, his handsome face showing little emotion. He picked up the next person's library card to help them check in.

"Haven't finished it? I bet she lost the book," a crisp female voice said.

Brian Carter, still checking in, replied, "Maybe."

There was a hint of disdain in her voice. "A library card is fifty yuan, that book is 82. I don't think she'll ever come back."

"I don't think she'll come back either." Director Smith, who was in charge of the front desk, walked over and patted Brian Carter on the shoulder. "Xiao Tang, go see what that fortune teller is up to. I just saw him head to the corner, which is a blind spot for the cameras. Make sure nothing happens."

Brian Carter nodded lightly and walked toward the corner.

Suzhou City Library is located downtown, with three floors. The third floor is mostly humanities and history books. Brian Carter walked from the service desk to the southeast corner, passed more than thirty bookshelves, and searched around before finally finding the fortune teller.

November in Suzhou already had a hint of chill. The cold wind howled outside, rattling the windows, but the sunlight streaming in made it feel warm. The fortune teller sat cross-legged on the floor by the window, with five or six books scattered messily beside him. He hadn't read a single one; his hands were buried in his hair, which was already messy and now even more disheveled from his rubbing.

Brian Carter pressed his lips together and resignedly went over to pick up the books. "Mr. Brooks, we have tables and chairs in the library. You can read over there."

"Read... read... read what..."

Brian Carter glanced at the thick book he had just picked up. "'The Secret of the Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization'?"

The fortune teller suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes wide with fear. "You know the secret of the Mayan civilization's disappearance?"

Brian Carter gave a faint smile. "No, do you?"

"I know, of course I know." The fortune teller suddenly became animated, jumping up and saying, "They offended the Revealer of God. The Kukulkan they worshipped was a false god, not the Revealer of God at all. They offended God, so they all died. God is the only one, eternal. To offend God is to die!"