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 sun dipped low over the city, casting long shadows across the entrance of the Shirogiri Manor. The assembled clans stood in hushed anticipation, their banners swaying in the evening breeze. Word had spread far beyond expectation—what had begun as a mere challenge between two warriors had become a spectacle of power, a defining moment for the future of the Shirogiri and Mori alike.

Ash stepped forward, clad in the traditional dueling attire of his ancestors, the weight of history pressing against his shoulders. Across from him, Takeshi Mori stood relaxed, his confidence palpable. The duel had already been decided in his mind.

The elder from the Iwakura clan raised his hand. "This is a formal duel by the old laws. First blood shall determine the victor. Let it be witnessed."

A slow silence settled as the two combatants took their stances.

Takeshi struck first, his blade flashing in the fading light. Ash barely evaded, his movements instinctive, faster than he remembered himself being. The world around him slowed—each step, each breath felt clearer, more precise. The trial of the Forgotten Shadow whispered in the recesses of his mind, and for the first time, he embraced it.

Steel clashed against steel, the sound ringing through the courtyard. The crowd leaned forward, eyes fixed on the combatants. Takeshi pressed the attack, relentless, yet Ash found himself matching the rhythm, countering with a precision that unsettled his opponent.

Then, Ash saw it—the opening. Takeshi overextended, just slightly, a flaw hidden beneath arrogance.

With a single decisive motion, Ash struck. His blade found its mark, a thin crimson line blooming across Takeshi's shoulder.

Ash stepped back, his breathing controlled, his stance unbroken. Takeshi stared in disbelief, his fingers touching the wound as the realization sank in.

The silence shattered as murmurs spread through the gathered clans. The impossible had happened. The last heir of the Shirogiri had won.

The Duel Before the Clans