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 morning air was crisp as Ash stepped out of the Shirogiri manor. The weight of his decisions from the previous night still lingered in his mind, but today wasn't about the underworld. It was about something more personal.

Not just returning—but taking back everything they had done to him: every punch, every humiliation, every moment they thought they could break him. Now, it was their turn to feel the full weight of their actions.

A sleek black sedan idled by the entrance, the deep purr of its engine breaking the morning quiet. Ash narrowed his eyes. He wasn't expecting a ride.

The driver-side door swung open, and a woman stepped out. She was in her early twenties, tall, poised, and undeniably attractive. Long raven-black hair cascaded down her back, framing sharp amber eyes that studied him with a mix of amusement and scrutiny. She wasn't Kaisho. Not exactly. The way she moved, the confidence in her stance—she was a professional.

She smirked. "Ash Shirogiri?" Her voice was smooth, confident.

He crossed his arms. "Who's asking?"

She leaned against the car, folding her arms. "Your ride to school. Orders from Kaito."

Ash exhaled, glancing back at the manor. Of course. He should've known.

"Yuki. Driver. Bodyguard. Babysitter, if necessary." She flashed a teasing grin. "Try not to make my job difficult, alright?"

She opened the rear door for him. He hesitated for a moment.

Going back to that place… after everything?

The halls where they had mocked him. Beaten him. Broken him. The so-called elite students who thought their money and bloodlines made them untouchable.

They had no idea what he had become.

As Yuki drove, the silence stretched between them, interrupted only by the hum of the engine.

Then she glanced at him through the mirror. "So… high school, huh?"

Ash sighed. "Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

She chuckled. "Not at all. Just surprised. After everything you've been through, sitting in a classroom seems… tame."

Ash smirked, looking out the window. "I'm not going back for the classes."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Something or someone?"

He didn't answer immediately. Their faces flashed in his mind. The ones who had pushed him down. Laughed at him. Left him bleeding while teachers looked the other way.

Finally, he spoke, voice low. "Both."

Yuki's smirk widened. "Figures. You don't strike me as the type who just lets things go."

Yuki tapped the steering wheel. "So, should I expect trouble? Bullies suddenly finding out they fucked with the wrong guy?"

Ash smirked, his voice like steel. "Wouldn't be the first time."

She grinned. "Good. Keeps things interesting."

The school gates came into view. Students walked in, laughing, chatting, completely unaware.

Ash cracked his neck, exhaling slowly. He wasn't the same person they had beaten down.

This time, they weren't going to get away with it.

This time, he was going to make them pay.

And this time, they were going to learn who Ash Shirogiri really was.

RETURN TO SCHOOL