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 stone passageway loomed ahead, swallowing Ash in its cold embrace as he stepped forward. The air grew thick with dampness, the faint scent of aged steel and earth filling his lungs. The chamber beyond was lit only by flickering braziers, casting elongated shadows that danced like specters against the walls.

Kaito followed behind him but stopped at the threshold. "From here, you walk alone," he said. "The trial is yours to face. Succeed, and you will have the Kaisho's loyalty. Fail, and you will be forgotten."

Ash nodded, swallowing his doubt. He stepped deeper into the chamber, where three masked figures stood waiting. Their expressions were unreadable beneath their obsidian masks, but their posture spoke volumes—these were warriors, disciplined and lethal.

A voice echoed from the darkness. The same masked elder who had challenged Ash before. "The Trial consists of three tests: Endurance, Instinct, and Lethality. Only those who pass all three may claim their place among us."

Ash's pulse quickened as the first warrior stepped forward. The man carried no weapons—only his fists, wrapped in cloth, scarred from years of combat.

"Endurance begins now," the elder declared.

Without warning, the warrior attacked.

A fist came like a hammer toward Ash's ribs. He twisted, barely dodging in time, but the force of the air alone sent a shock through his frame. No hesitation. No wasted movement. This wasn't a simple sparring match—this was survival.

Ash countered, stepping forward with a strike aimed at his opponent's midsection. The warrior deflected it effortlessly, using Ash's own momentum to send him staggering. A kick followed, landing solidly against Ash's shoulder and driving him to the ground.

Pain flared through his body, but he grit his teeth and forced himself up. Again.

The warrior struck again, relentless.

A brutal dance of strikes, counters, and raw endurance unfolded. Ash's muscles screamed in protest, his breaths ragged, but he refused to fall again. Each blow he absorbed became a lesson, each mistake a correction. He began to anticipate the warrior's movements, blocking where he had failed before, sidestepping where he had been struck.

Minutes passed, or perhaps hours—time lost meaning. Blood dripped from a cut on his brow, sweat soaked his clothes, but he stood firm, unwavering.

At last, the warrior halted. He gave a slow nod before stepping back into the shadows.

"Endurance," the elder announced, "is passed."

Ash exhaled sharply, his chest rising and falling as he steadied himself.

Then, the second figure moved forward, this one wielding twin daggers that gleamed in the firelight.

"Now," the elder's voice rang out once more, "we test your Instinct."

Ash tightened his grip on his blade. The trial had only just begun.

THE TRIAL BEGINS