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's breath came in ragged gasps, his vision blurred by sweat and the sharp sting of blood trickling from a wound above his brow. His body screamed for relief, muscles aching from the relentless struggle. He had fought—harder than he ever had—but it hadn't been enough.

The cold steel of his opponent's blade pressed against his throat, a silent declaration of defeat. The dim alleyway, slick with rain and grime, bore witness to his failure. His assailant—a masked enforcer of the corporate underworld—stood poised for the finishing blow.

A whisper of movement, a ripple in the air itself.

Before Ash could react, his attacker was gone—ripped away as if the darkness itself had reached out and plucked him from existence. A muffled grunt followed, the sound of flesh meeting steel, then silence. The blade at Ash's throat clattered to the ground, abandoned.

Ash barely managed to roll onto his side, chest heaving, eyes darting to the silhouette now standing where his enemy had been. Cloaked in black, the figure moved with an effortless grace, the rain barely touching them, their presence a void in the city's artificial glow. A pair of sharp eyes, the only feature visible beneath the shadowed hood, studied him with eerie precision.

"You were reckless," the stranger murmured, their voice smooth as polished steel. "But not unworthy."

Ash forced himself onto his knees, ignoring the fire in his ribs. "Kaito..." he rasped, recognizing the familiar presence of his mentor.

Kaito stepped forward, his stance unwavering. "You hesitated," he said, his tone neither condemning nor forgiving. "Had I been a second later, you would be dead."

Ash clenched his jaw, the truth of Kaito's words cutting deeper than any blade. "I know."

Kaito studied him for a long moment before extending a gloved hand. Ash hesitated only a moment before gripping it. The strength in the grasp was undeniable, yet controlled.

"Come," Kaito said. "You have much to learn. The Kaisho exist to serve the Shirogiri, to uphold the will of your ancestors. That duty did not end when your clan fell. It merely became... waiting."

Ash's mind spun. The Kaisho clan—a name spoken in whispers, a myth wrapped in secrecy. They were not merely an independent force but the unseen blade of the Shirogiri, bound by an oath that outlived even the clan's downfall. They had endured in the shadows, awaiting the return of a rightful heir.

Yet, here he was. Saved. Offered a path forward.

He wiped the blood from his lip, exhaling sharply. "If I refuse?"

Kaito's gaze was unreadable. "Then you will die. If not tonight, then soon. The corporations, the underworld, your own past—none will grant you mercy. But accept what is rightfully yours, and the Kaisho will ensure you never stand alone."

Ash clenched his fists. He had always known this moment would come, the moment where survival would demand more than just skill. It would demand commitment.

And so, with a final glance at the body of the man who had nearly ended his life, Ash took a step forward, toward the unknown.

The night swallowed them both, leaving only the rain and the distant hum of the city as witness to his choice.

THE SHADOW'S INTERVENTION