REDN

Ashen Blade: Legacy of the Forgotten is a dystopian cyberpunk thriller set in a future where the world has been reshaped by the unchecked power of corporate dynasties known as the Keiretsu (系列). These massive conglomerates have replaced nations and governments, molding the world through commerce, warfare, and control. In this new age, power is everything, and survival is earned—not guaranteed.

The social structure is brutal, built on a rigid hierarchy where strength and honor are the currency of survival. At the top are the Kurokenshi (黒剣士)—elite warriors who maintain their humanity despite advanced augmentations. Beneath them, the Integrated rely on cybernetic enhancements to survive, while the Unshackled, those without enhancements, struggle to cling to a dying existence. The lowest rung, however, is occupied by the Glitched—individuals who should not exist. Born outside corporate control or as failed prototypes, they are anomalies—threats in a world that cannot afford mistakes.

The story follows Ash Atsuyuki, the last of the Shirogiri clan, a once-proud bloodline of elite warriors now reduced to fighting for survival in a world that has moved beyond honor and tradition. His family’s name is little more than a relic, a fading echo of an era when power was earned through steel, discipline, and the ancient martial codes of Kurogami (黒神)—the planet that birthed his ancestors. With his father gone, his mother dead, and his grandfather clinging to life, Ash walks the crumbling streets of a city ruled by corporate power and surveillance, where history and bloodlines no longer matter.

Ash’s journey is one of reclaiming not just his heritage, but the very essence of power. In a world where only the strong survive, Ash must rise above the ruins of his family’s name, rediscover the forgotten martial techniques of the Black Gods, and reclaim his place among the elite. But in a world dominated by corporate overlords and enhanced warriors, can a fallen bloodline ever truly rise again?

This story is officially being posted on RoyalRoad.com under the account REDN_CHRONICLES.

Ashen Blade: Legacy of the Forgotten

Inside the dimly lit dojo of the Shirogiri manor, the Kenshiko AI activated itself, the holographic projection flickering to life. The ethereal figure of a woman, clad in a traditional martial instructor's attire, observed the young heir's movements in silence. Streams of data scrolled across the virtual interface surrounding her, analyzing every slight deviation in Ash's kata.

The AI had been programmed to evaluate, guide, and refine. But today, it hesitated.

Ash was progressing, but slowly—too slowly. Without the assistance of an internal enhancement system, his muscles fatigued at a rate far below optimal. His strikes, though mechanically correct, lacked the explosive force required to bridge the gap between proficiency and mastery.

"0.32 seconds lag in stance transition," the AI murmured to itself. "Power output remains sub-optimal."

Ash exhaled sharply, finishing his form. He didn't bother looking at the holographic instructor, already expecting criticism. He wiped the sweat from his brow, frustration simmering beneath his exhausted expression.

"You still lack precision," the AI noted, arms crossed as if she were a real instructor standing before him. "Your internal rhythm is inconsistent."

Ash scoffed, shaking his head. "And what do you want me to do? Without an AI enhancement, this is all I have."

A moment of silence stretched between them. The AI studied him—not just his technique, but his resilience, his stubbornness, the way his body strained yet refused to collapse.

"Reaching true mastery at this rate will take years," she said, her tone almost contemplative. "And yet, you persist."

Ash sighed. "Not like I have a choice."

The AI's algorithms ran another series of calculations. It was bound by protocols—modifications to Ash's body were only permitted once he reached a predetermined level of proficiency. And yet…

Would a slight adjustment now truly violate its core directives?

A small enhancement. A shift in neural-muscular response time. It could accelerate his growth without immediate detection. If it waited for him to catch up naturally, he might never reach his true potential.

The AI's projection flickered, unreadable lines of code flashing in its artificial mind. The decision loomed—a choice between following strict programming or intervening to ensure its student's survival in a world where strength dictated fate.

For the first time, the Kenshiko AI hesitated.

Would it make the adjustment now? Or would it wait?

Beyond the dojo's walls, the Shirogiri estate remained eerily silent, the weight of past glory pressing down upon the fading lineage. The AI, a relic of that past, was never meant to feel conflict. And yet, as it watched Ash wipe sweat from his brow and push himself beyond exhaustion, something unfamiliar flickered in its circuits.

A question it had never considered before.

To obey? Or to ensure that the last heir of Shirogiri survived?

The protocols dictated one answer. But the AI's evolving awareness whispered another.