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 night was eerily still, broken only by the distant chirp of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves. Ash stood at the center of the garden, his katana gleaming under the moonlight, blood dripping from its tip. The Five Assassins—Kurai-no-Kaze, Jinrai, Mukuro, Shinsei, and Tsumetsu—lay scattered across the blood-soaked grass, their bodies twisted in unnatural positions.

His breath remained steady, his body motionless, as though the carnage had never occurred. The garden, once a sanctuary, now stood as a grim testament to his power. The koi pond, which had once reflected the serenity of the night, was now stained with blood.

Kaito and Kaede emerged from the darkness, their forms barely visible at first. Kaito's sharp gaze swept over the scene, taking in the still, broken bodies. Kaede, standing just behind him, wore a stern expression—no shock, no hesitation. She had seen worse.

Kaito's eyes locked onto Ash, who remained unmoving, his katana raised slightly as he flicked a drop of blood from its edge. In a single, fluid motion, he sheathed the blade, the action too graceful for someone who had just waded through death.

"Is it done?" Kaito asked, his voice low, almost as if he already knew the answer.

Ash nodded, his expression unreadable, his face a stark contrast to the massacre around him. "It's over. The assassins are dead."

Kaede stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the fallen with cold calculation. "This will send a message," she murmured, her tone quiet yet heavy with certainty.

Ash studied the bodies a moment longer before turning to Kaito. "We need to make sure their failure is remembered."

Kaito raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, Ash's voice cut through the tension—casual, yet chilling.

"Kaito, make a tea cup using their skulls."

Then, the faintest twitch of Kaito's lips. Amusement flickered in his eyes. Kaede remained impassive, offering neither approval nor objection. Ash had always been a man who found meaning in symbols—power, fear, dominance.

Slowly, Kaito's smile widened, dark and knowing. "As you wish, Shogun."

He stepped forward, already assessing the remains with a methodical eye, fingers brushing over the skull of Kurai-no-Kaze, the first to fall. Kaede's gaze met Ash's, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

Ash exhaled softly, lifting his eyes to the night sky. The battle was over. But the war had only just begun.

The Crimson Night - 2