Riflemen of the Zhongkui Battalion

How should a modern, practical soldier design retain a unique cultural appearance?

I didn't redesign any visual element to blend ancient and modern, as the end result often looks like neither. To make it visually striking and memorable, I believe some degree of abrupt coexistence between modern and ancient elements works better. The modern part gives people something familiar they can immediately identify, and the ancient part is the 'hmm interesting' factor. So here it is: a WWII-style soldier with their face wrapped in fabric used for Daoist rituals in Chinese folklore.

This fits my personal interpretation of Trench Crusade's aesthetic and the Zhongkui Battalion's vibe, using supernatural power to drive familiar-looking soliders against the unknown.

If you're interested in a custom illustration, commission me.