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

Ash moved through the halls of the Shirogiri estate, his steps soundless, but the weight of the night clung to him like an unseen shadow. The echoes of his first kill lingered in his bones, the metallic scent of blood still fresh in his mind.

The estate felt still—too still. The air was heavy, suffocating, as if the very walls had been holding their breath.

"You have returned."

The voice was calm, measured—devoid of warmth.

The AI's spectral form materialized in the dim hallway, its traditional robes flowing in a way that seemed too natural for something purely digital. It watched him, its golden eyes unreadable.

"Elder Shirogiri's vitals have destabilized. The condition has worsened beyond initial projections."

A chill passed through Ash's veins. His grip on his blade tightened.

He forced himself to move, his legs carrying him faster than he thought possible.

The scent of incense filled the room. It was faint, almost drowned out by the sterility of the medical systems quietly humming in the background.

His grandfather lay still on the futon, the once-unbreakable warrior reduced to frail limbs and shallow breaths. The weight of time had settled into his skin—his presence no longer sharp like a blade, but dull like an old wound.

Yet, his eyes still carried fire.

They found Ash immediately, as if he had been waiting for him.

"You did it, didn't you?"

The words cut through him. Not an accusation. Not approval. Just a fact.

Ash swallowed, stepping forward. He didn't answer. He didn't need to.

His grandfather exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment before speaking again.

Ash opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

His fingers twitched at his side, ghosting over the hilt of his sword. The blade that had taken a life. The blade that had fulfilled its purpose.

He should say yes. He should feel something.

But all he felt was the weight of his grandfather's gaze.

Ash obeyed, kneeling beside the futon. His grandfather's hand trembled as it reached out, brushing against the fabric of Ash's sleeve.

"Our bloodline carries weight, Ash. Not just in strength, but in consequence."

Slowly, with what little strength he had left, he gestured to the small wooden chest at his bedside.

Inside, resting atop layers of silk, was an aged scroll, its edges worn with time.

His breath caught. He recognized the markings—the final teachings of the Shirogiri.

"I wanted more time," his grandfather murmured, voice weak but firm. "To show you… to prepare you. But time is cruel. The rest… you must learn alone."

Kenshiko, silent until now, finally spoke.

"Elder Shirogiri's remaining lifespan is below projected thresholds. Do you wish to engage stabilization protocols?"

Ash flinched. His gaze snapped toward the AI's form, still watching, its expression unreadable.

Stabilization protocols. Artificial life extension.

His grandfather's fingers curled weakly into the fabric of Ash's sleeve.

"No machine can outrun the body's fate."

"Do not let them define you, Ash. Not the AI. Not the clan. Not the ghosts of the past."

The AI's voice came again, clinical, precise.

"Vitals critical. Ten seconds remaining."

Kenshiko's voice was the only thing that remained.

"Life signs: extinguished."

The incense still burned. The embers of a legacy, fading into the air.

Ash closed his grandfather's eyes.

For the first time since his first kill, he felt something real.

Ashes of a Legacy