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 dojo was silent, save for the faint hum of crackling energy radiating from the Oni Wraith. Ash stood firm, chest heaving as he steadied himself. The Wraith did not disappear, nor did it simply linger as an obedient construct. Instead, it turned its masked face toward him, tilting its head slightly, as if studying him.

Then, it spoke. The Oni Wraith lifted its void-forged blade, its ethereal form coiling like living ink, shifting as it considered Ash. Power—true power—was not granted, nor inherited. It was forged in struggle, earned in battle, tested by fire. This mortal was yet unproven.

"Then prove it.", the darkness coiling around its form like a living entity.

Without warning, the Wraith lunged. Ash barely had time to react before the massive blade came down, shattering the floorboards where he had stood just moments before. The sheer force sent shockwaves through the dojo, the echoes

The voice was a deep, resonant growl, layered and ancient, as if multiple voices whispered over one another from the void. Ash's pulse quickened. His own creation—the embodiment of his power—was denying him.

"Unworthy?" Ash narrowed his eyes, stepping forward. "I shaped you. You are mine to command."

The Oni Wraith did not move. Its hollow eyes burned like embers behind the mask. "You shaped me, but you do not own me. Power is not given, nor is it taken—it is proven. If you cannot withstand the trial, you are nothing."

Kenshiko's voice wavered slightly, a rarity in the AI's otherwise calculated tone. "Ash… this was not recorded in the Shirogiri archives. No warrior before you has ever summoned a Wraith. The records only speak of primal beasts, extensions of one's Ki. This… this is something else."

Ash gritted his teeth. "Then I will be the first."

The Oni Wraith lifted its void-forged blade, the darkness coiling around its form like a living entity. "Then prove it."

Without warning, the Wraith lunged. Ash barely had time to react before the massive blade came down, shattering the floorboards where he had stood just moments before. The sheer force sent shockwaves through the dojo, the echoes of its power reverberating through the sacred walls.

Ash twisted his body, dodging to the side. He could feel the energy rippling in the air, suffocating, oppressive. This was not like training against an opponent of flesh and blood. This was something deeper, something that tested more than just his strength—it tested his resolve.

He steadied his stance and channeled his Ki, forcing the shadows around him to bend to his will. "I will not break."

The Oni Wraith's mask seemed to shift, as if smiling beneath its expressionless form. "Then fight. If you would claim me as your own, show me that you are worthy of the name Shirogiri."

Ash lunged forward, meeting the darkness head-on.

The Oni Wraith observed the warrior before it, its hollow eyes burning with cold calculation. This mortal had called upon the shadows, shaped them into a form beyond mere beasts. Yet, in his stance, there was hesitation. In his heart, there was doubt.

It had seen warriors before—not in this world, but in the echoes of ancient battlefields, where spirits clashed in the void between existence and oblivion. Yet none had reached beyond instinct to summon something like it. None had dared to claim dominion over the unknown.

And now, this one sought to command it?

Trial of the Oni Wraith