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 turned, rolling his shoulders with a low groan. The training had pushed him past his limits, until his muscles burned and his body ached, but despite the exhaustion, something still felt unfinished. There was a hunger inside him, a need to test what he had learned, to see if the lessons he had endured in the dojo had truly transformed him.

Kaito's voice broke through the silence, laced with a challenge. "You've been holed up in here long enough. Let's see what you've actually learned."

From across the mat, Kaito's smirk was unmistakable. There was no amusement in it, only the quiet anticipation of a true warrior eager to test his own skills against his protégé's.

He cracked his knuckles, stepping onto the mat with the confidence of a man who had lived by the blade for far longer than Ash. "No holograms. No AI. Just you and me."

Ash felt a fire ignite within him. A grin tugged at his lips. "Let's go."

They bowed, a silent respect passing between them, before they moved.

Faster than before. Sharper. Each strike, each counter was calculated, every move built on years of experience. This was no longer a student sparring with a mentor. This was a battle between two warriors—one with the fire of youth and the other with the calm mastery of a seasoned fighter.

For the first time, Kaito had to take Ash seriously.

The dojo was silent except for the sound of their breathing, the air thick with the tension of what was about to unfold.

Ash and Kaito stood across from each other, the polished wooden floor beneath their feet reflecting the flickering lantern light above them. The space felt alive with the weight of every moment they had spent together—the lessons, the training, the countless hours.

No words were needed between them—only the unspoken understanding of a mentor and a disciple, of the master and the student who was no longer just a pupil.

Kaito's knuckles cracked as he flexed his hands, preparing for the first strike. "Let's see if all that training actually meant something."

Ash's eyes locked with his, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "I was about to say the same thing."

Kaito struck first—quick, precise, his movements a blur as he tested Ash's reflexes. A feint to the left, a pivot, and then a sweeping kick aimed at Ash's ribs, a strike designed to overwhelm him before he could react.

But Ash was faster now. His body had evolved beyond mere reaction. Using the Phantom Step, he blurred out of range, appearing just a breath away from impact.

The old Ash wouldn't have dodged in time.

Kaito's grin widened as he surged forward. "Not bad. But I'm not done."

His fists became a flurry of motion, each punch faster, more powerful than the last. Ash's defenses were put to the test as he deflected, parried, and countered with a fluidity that matched Kaito's own. Each strike, each block, became part of a rhythmic dance of combat. But there was something deeper now—a confidence in Ash's eyes that wasn't there before.

A perfect moment. His fist shot forward with deadly precision, a Windless Blade strike aimed at Kaito's shoulder. But the veteran fighter was quicker than expected. With a twist, Kaito absorbed the blow, redirecting the force before sweeping Ash's leg out from under him.

Ash hit the floor hard, the impact rattling his bones.

"Still predictable," Kaito's voice echoed as he stepped back, watching Ash rise slowly. "Again."

THE SPAR WITH KAITO