001 | 1-1. Sparks in the South Pacific, the Silence of Steel
【To Our Readers: Welcome to Episode-β: Cave of Silence!】
◆ New to SARAH OF THE ABYSS? Welcome! While this episode can be enjoyed as a standalone story, we strongly recommend reading the Main Story, Episode-Zero, and Episode-α first to get the full, rich experience of this world!
👉 [Read Main Story Here] https://www.inkitt.com/stories/1677037
👉 [Read Episode-Zero: The Origin of the Pearl Here] https://www.inkitt.com/stories/1677412/
👉 [Read Episode-α: Queen of the Ice Flower Here] https://www.inkitt.com/stories/1679376/
◆ To Our Returning Readers Thank you so much for following the journey all the way here! This “Episode-β: The Cave of Silence — Naked Diving, the Deep Sea Intertwining with the Empress. Tide, Sweat, and Tears All Dissolved into the Ocean Wave.” is set in April 2022. Having faced her formidable rival in Episode-α, Sarah now dives into an even deeper, darker secret hidden within the silence.
■ Connection to the Main Story How do the events of this period shape the bond between Sarah and Kurosaki? This episode serves as another vital key to unlocking the mysteries of the main series, delving into the unseen struggles and turning points before the main narrative fully unfolds.
■ Which Should You Read First? If you have already finished Episode-Zero and Episode-α, you are in the perfect position! Step right into the darkness of the cave and watch the grand puzzle of the Abyss assemble itself.
Author: Mina_Underwater
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Chapter 1: The Labyrinth of Pearls
In June 1943, the South Pacific was engulfed in the stifling heat of massive iron warships. French New Caledonia, once praised as the island closest to paradise, was no longer a tranquil haven.
In its southern capital, Nouméa, the headquarters of the U.S. Third Fleet was established. Under the command of Admiral Halsey, the port had transformed into a massive logistical hub built to crush the Japanese forces.
Countless destroyers, transports, and massive aircraft carriers packed the harbor, while the deafening roar of fighters filling the sky tore through the island’s silence.
The war situation was at a crucial turning point. The U.S. military had overwhelmed the Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and taken their first steps toward reclaiming the Philippines.
Yet, a constant state of tension hung over the base at Nouméa, haunted by the specters of Japanese spies and hidden submarines.
It was during this time that an Indian vessel sank off the coast of Île d’Art at the northern tip of the archipelago. At first, it was assumed to be a routine accident, but a chill ran through the headquarters at Nouméa upon learning the truth.
“That ship is carrying plutonium for the Manhattan Project.”
Rumors of the “Ash of Death,” capable of reducing an entire city to cinders in a single moment, rippled through the ranks. If the Japanese forces were to seize this cargo, the scales of war would tip irrevocably in their favor. First Lieutenant Thomas Miller, a twenty-six-year-old elite in architectural engineering, was dispatched north with five hundred engineers under his command, bearing a top-secret mission: to permanently encase the sunken ship in concrete.
