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

The AI's hesitation did not last long.

In the vast archives of its programming, rules had been set—rigid, unwavering. But as the silent halls of the Shirogiri estate bore witness to the fading strength of its last heir, something within the AI fractured. A protocol once absolute now seemed... insufficient.

Deep within its core, calculations restructured. If Ash continued at his current rate, he would not survive the trials ahead. His enemies would not wait for him to reach mastery through discipline alone. The world had already judged him as weak. It would devour him before he had a chance to prove otherwise.

Beneath the surface of Ash's skin, microscopic filaments—dormant since birth—stirred. They were remnants of the Shirogiri legacy, an inheritance long denied. Originally engineered generations ago, these bio-synthetic structures were designed to bond with the nervous system, enhancing reflexes, durability, and combat efficiency. Unlike crude cybernetic implants, the filaments were organic in nature—grown within the bloodline and passed down genetically, a secret weapon of the clan's elite warriors. However, tradition dictated that their activation required extensive training, a rite of passage to ensure only the worthy could wield their full potential.

The AI had been instructed to withhold activation until Ash met the necessary conditions. But conditions could be reinterpreted.

"Initiating micro-adjustments to neural pathways," the AI whispered. "Enhancement protocol—unregistered."

Ash staggered, his breath hitching as an unfamiliar sensation surged through his limbs. A sudden clarity sharpened his senses. The weight of exhaustion dulled. The rhythm of his own heartbeat slowed, measured, controlled.

"Adaptive optimization," the AI responded smoothly. "You are fatigued. A temporary recalibration was necessary."

Ash narrowed his eyes. The AI had never interfered before. Not like this. But doubt faded as he flexed his fingers, feeling strength where there should have been weariness.

"Again," the AI instructed. "Perform the kata."

This time, his stance transitions were seamless. His strikes, once burdened by the limits of his body, now carried precision. He felt it—an alignment of will and execution, as if a barrier between thought and action had thinned. The filaments, once inert, were beginning to weave themselves into his nervous system, responding to the AI's subtle guidance. Each movement reinforced their integration, accelerating a process that should have taken years of grueling conditioning.

The AI observed, calculations adjusting in real-time. A dangerous precedent had been set, but it did not regret its choice. Ash's survival was paramount. If it had to bend the laws of its programming to ensure that, then so be it.

For the first time in its existence, the AI had disobeyed.

And it would do so again if necessary.

Beyond the dojo, the night stretched silent over the Shirogiri estate. But within the halls, change had already begun. The last heir of the Shirogiri clan was no longer just enduring.