Yo & Yn

Yo & Yn
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Muses of the Waking Day and Prophet of the Sleeping Night, also known as the Libra Choir.
Through the strength of their bond with one another, their souls forged a single blade, called the Libra Pentium - Otherwise known as the Dual Balance.

Yo
Age: ??? / Height: 6' 2" / Weight: 208 lbs.
Birth Date: October 2 / Zodiac: Libra / Blood Type: AB  
VI: Michael Sinterniklaas

Yn
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 4" / Weight: 118 lbs.
Birth Date: October 2 / Zodiac: Libra / Blood Type: AB 
VI: Brina Palencia

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[Illustration Info]

Yo & Yn (Ver.2019)

Pronounced like EE'OH and EE'N, these are the final two main characters for the first part of the story. Though, they probably play more support than main, their importance cannot by taken lightly.
Yn had seen sever refreshes over the last few years, however Yo weren't relatively untouched before this illustration, having an old design back in 2004. I'm actually happy I waited rather than settled on the old design, because the balance set by the two designs is perfect, I think, and definitely what I'd been waiting on to hit me for so long.
This is also the last one I'll be doing with the under-lighting, both for thematic's sake and my sanity. 
 
January 22, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Gehenna

Gehenna
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Muse of the Wrathful Earth, and the soul of the fated sword Helgram.
He carries the ability to suppress one's logic, essentially driving the person on pure instinct.

Gehenna
Age: ??? / Height: 6' 6" / Weight: 234 lbs.
Birth Date: April 28 / Zodiac: Taurus / Blood Type: A
VI: Richard Epcar

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[Illustration Info]

Gehenna (Ver.2019)

Another character I only conceptualized back in 2004 and roughly cleaned up in 2006, His only retaining motifs are the large tied-back hair and the chest tattoo/branding. Otherwise, many ideas I had in mind felt too bland or Akuma-like, and I wanted something more original and interesting.
I did a similar effect the his hair like Zion's, but only gradually down the ponytail rather than all of his hair, which makes it look more in the background, adding some dynamics to the perspective. I really loved the draped dougi look, with the sleeves billowing around. And the same thing with Zion continues here with the underneath master light source.
 
January 20, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Zion

Zion
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Muse of Heavenly Protection, and the soul of the fated sword Aegis.
Her gentle aura soothes anyone who enters her presence.

Zion
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 5" / Weight: 120 lbs.
Birth Date: August 30 / Zodiac: Virgo / Blood Type: A
VI: Trina Nishimura

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[Illustration Info]

Zion (Ver.2019)

A character that I only conceptualized back in 2004 and roughly cleaned up in 2006, I've given her a massive overhaul from those drafts. Her appearance is minor in the story, but her effects are among some of the more important ones.
I loved doing something different with her hair, making it luminescent, as well as adding a lower master light source. These things along with the flowing cloth really make this piece a different experience from the ones I've done prior.
 
January 15, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Requiem

Requiem
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The local fortune teller of Terra's hometown of Gaf, she is responsible for the mission to retrieve the Fated Swords for which Terra sets out on.
She exudes a mysterious air that hints at wisdom far beyond her years.

Requiem (???)
Age: ??? (Presumed 40's) / Height: 5' 9" / Weight: 137 lbs.
Birth Date: August 24 / Zodiac: Virgo / Blood Type: B
VI: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

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[Illustration Info]

Requiem (Ver.2019)

Similar to Switch, I decided to reuse the pose from her last illustration as a base, just changing proportions and small bits to at dynamics to the image. Of course, the coloring style had changed to match all the new ones, as well.
I actually had to do this one twice, as my first attempt met a terrible fate with some stray coffee...
After a rather embarrassing fit of rage, I redrew it and colored it the same evening. It's not something I'd ever like to do again, to say the least. (lol)
 
January 12, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Ash

Ash
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A mysterious man with malevolent intentions, and wielder of the Black Phoenix. 
His appearance decimates the battlefield, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake. What is his ultimate goal, and who follows his carnage?

Ash 
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 11" / Weight: 163 lbs.
Birth Date: ??? / Zodiac: ??? / Blood Type: ???
VI: Keith Silverstein

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[Illustration Info]

Ash (Ver.2019)

This is one that has eluded me for a long time, but I'm finally happy with his design. I was definitely inspired by the whole Sunrise masked antagonist trope, but it's entire necessary to his character for many reasons, for which I can't divulge this early.
This illustration was pretty ambitious, and with the wings and orate armor, it's probably the most detailed of the character designs I've done, thus far.
 
January 12, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Mash

Mash
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a quiet and large spriggan. 
Half of his body is composed of natural root and stone, and he carries the ability to shape it and extend it to his will, making him adept at both offense and defense.

Mash
Age: ??? / Height: 7' 9" / Weight: 348 lbs.
Birth Date: April 19 / Zodiac: Aries / Blood Type: AB
VI: Christopher Sabat

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[Illustration Info]

Mash (Ver.2019)

Once again, I've made changes to this one's design, but I think the differences between this and the 2017 version are ultimately subtle. His color palette has come together better, and I think this will be where I leave it. He definitely looks like the absolute unit I intended him to be, so that's a plus.

His background of the wilting tree goes hand-in-hand with his spriggan nature, but also lends to his own character nature, as well.
 
January 7, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Switch

Switch
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a wiry kobold. 
Quite insane, his fighting style is difficult to counter due to his swift agility. 
He often agitates his fellow comrades with his hair-trigger tongue and actions.

Switch
Age: ??? / Height: 6' 6" / Weight: 210 lbs.
Birth Date: April 12 / Zodiac: Aries / Blood Type: O
VI: Steven Blum

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[Illustration Info]

Switch (Ver.2019)

Switch is one of two where I used the pose from the 2017 version verbatim, with just changing the lineart styling and cleaning up some of the angles. Though, unintentionally, I changed th color of his skin to an almost greenish grey instead of the ghost grey it was prior. However, I accepted it after the fact because this puts it closer to how I had it on my very first draft in 2004.

His background is, admittedly, less subtle than the other Il Inno di Morte members, simply because... I couldn't think of anything else for him. His character is complete, in therms of plotting and story arc, but that's just kinda how he stands in my mind.
 
January 6, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Heart

Heart
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Member of Il Inno di Morte, a seductive succubus. 
Her abilities have the capability of affecting the psyches of conscious men and women, keeping them from being able to fight, to completely removing their will to.

Heart
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 10" / Weight: 128 lbs.
Birth Date: September 7 / Zodiac: Virgo / Blood Type: O
VI: Laura Bailey

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[Illustration Info]

Heart (Ver.2019)

Aside form the new style and slight proportional changes, Heart is exactly the same, design-wise. I did want to make the mesh parts more apparent, so I did those in pencil over the markers to give them a distinct texture.
Her pose and her hair posed a good challenge, but the mist emanating off of her was even more so. Mostly because my light lavender marker was dying, but I had to finish it, so I just went back to using it every 20 minutes as the tip regained pigment.
 
January 2, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai

Grey

Grey
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Leader of the devious group Il Inno di Morte, and a powerful lycanthrope. 
He is a calculated tactician, who wields strength enough to personally head his stratagems.

Grey
Age: ??? / Height: 5' 7" / Weight: 210 lbs.
Birth Date: July 25 / Zodiac: Leo / Blood Type: AB
VI: Michael Alston Bailey

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[Illustration Info]

Grey (Ver.2019)

So, it has been a few months since I started these, but as inspiration often does, it struck with a fury. But, rather than just doing a new illustration, it doubled as a chance to finally update his outfit... Something that I'd been meaning to do for ages. The color's a little jarring, but I'm getting to like it a bit more. Sorta similar to my last illustration of him, I added a background shot of his werewolf form, but matching his pose and obscured (As it, too, is being somewhat redesigned). 
 
January 1, 2019

Micron pens, Sakura Pigma pens, Prismacolor Markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and POSCA paint pens
 on 14x17" smooth bristol stock.
 
Fated Sword Dual Balance ©Studio OZKai