Prologue
“Each of us visits this earth involuntarily, and without an invitation”
-Albert Einstein-
The Earth is over four hundred billion years old, but modern humans’ time here is only some 200,000 years. Nature doesn't just watch.
Earth reacts. Even as human inventions and changes to the environment accelerated with the advent of the industrial revolution and new technologies, the Earth reacted. It reacted to deforestation and carbon emitted into the air by warming, heating, then overheating.
Humans were destroying the place where they lived. The machines and technology which were their crowning achievements proved also to be their downfall, their weakness.
By the early 21st century, changes were already accelerating. The ice at the North and South Poles began to melt, revealing the surrounding permafrost. The tall and majestic glaciers disappeared and in their place the underlying bedrock, long buried, felt the ray of the sun, the first in eons since the ancient glaciers appeared.
The melting of the ice caps and the appearance of new land at the poles signified the end of an era. The day of judgment was at hand.
"The earth's terrain begins to change due to global warming as such
The Earth warms, heats, then overheats"
Chapter 1
Judgment Day
In cycles that span millions of years, the Earth embarks on its own purification: birth, growth, death and destruction and then rebirth.
生老病死
(It is a kind of self-purification phenomenon in which the Earth purifies itself)
Dinosaurs that once roamed among the river basins are no more. Mighty mammoths fade into time. And humans, marked as much by their selfishness and greed as by dreams of grandeur, came at last to the Earth’s judgment.
Human time too had come to an end. The curtain closes.
The Earth makes known that the creatures that live on it do not own it. They are just sojourners on the land, the sea, the air. And judgment comes down to those who use the land carelessly. The water churns, the air whirls in storm, the sky breaks in calamity.
As a cycle comes to an end, most species that live on it are destroyed. But the surviving ones become the new rulers on the land. With them, Earth begins a new life cycle.
In the year 2029, there was an unexpected awakening. An event that would spell the end and a beginning. The awakening of a legend.
With the ice caps in the Antarctic alpine region melting, an explorer observed what appeared to be the body of a giant creature, intact with wings that spanned over mountain ridges.
A human expedition was dispatched to the site. Some of the researchers believed the creature to be an ancient being never before recorded in the human history. There were legends though, stories and myths handed down by word of mouth, a scattering of fossils in the geological record. Perhaps prior awakenings of the beast.
What was more surprising than the discovery, however, was that the creature was slowly … waking. It woke as if from a long, deep slumber, a sleep of a thousand years. This was the awakening of the Judgment Dragon.
Legend had become reality.
With the awakening of the Judgment Dragon, the cycle of the human world had come to an end. The Judgment Dragon began its destruction, clearing all that was before it.
"The Judgment Dragon appears"
Chapter 2
因果 (cause and effect)
In the world, each action leads to its opposite reaction, and things that are done lead to their natural consequences. This is called 因果(cause and effect)
The Judgment Dragon woke to correct the disorder on Earth. But the dragon’s awakening would also lead to the creation of an Existence that resists the dragon
This is a law of nature, a law of motion and causality that even the Earth is bound by.
The disruption to the natural world caused by humans leads to the awakening of the Judgment Dragon. The dragon devastates the human world. The destruction of human civilization reduces the stress on the natural environment. Then, in the order of things, new beings are born among the human survivors.
These new beings have the power to counter the Judgment Dragon. One by one, they were born among the remaining humans. Human evolution presents a new opportunity for life on Earth.
These new beings confront the Judgment Dragon.
This is also a law of nature.
"The expedition arrives at the Antarctic"
"The Judgment Dragon that has turned into a human figure.
It's more of an essential form of nature"
"Human beings and nature are connected in an inseparable relationship"
Chapter 3
New race - Dragon human
The Judgment Dragon attacks human cities soon after it awakes. The end-of-human crisis has spurred human evolution. Beginning in around 2030, across the many continents of the Earth, girl babies with dragon traits were born among the human survivors. The first of these girl babies were Celine and Akari. They were the first of the dragon humans.
The dragon humans were a new species evolved in response to the rise of the Judgment Dragon, as nature constantly seeks its balance. They arose from the natural process of action and reaction that creates harmony between life and nature. They were the result of evolution, which had properties to resist the Judgemend dragon.
The appearance of the Dragon human is the result of another response(cause and effect).
the process of constant resistance and harmony between life and nature.
A curious character of these dragon humans was that they had the ability to evolve into dragons. But only certain of these girls, as they grew up to young women, could evolve. The chosen among these young women evolved and became called "Mythical Dragon".
Before their evolution to become Mythical Dragon, these girls and young women with dragon traits were called "MATE".
Dragon humans often had slender limbs and small faces and may have looked fragile to the conventional observer. But in reality their physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary humans. MATE also had special shapes with horns on their heads and special shapes that were physically diverse.
MATEs and Mythical Dragons had the power to battle the Judgment-Dragon. In the first known battles between dragon humans and the Judgment Dragon, Celine and Akari showed that they could defend themselves against the dragon.
After the battle, the Judgment Dragon recognized and accepted that Celine and Akari appeared by the law of causality itself as a force to oppose the dragon’s own power.
Over time, Celine and Akari trained and were successful in repelling many invasions of the Judgment Dragon.
Nevertheless, as time went by, the countries and settlements that remained were falling one by one since the Judgment Dragon was in fact becoming stronger. Cities and villages lay in ruins in path of the dragon’s destruction.
As the Judgment Dragon became stronger, more MATEs much like Celine and Akari were found among the remaining human settlements. Their number seemed to increase too as the Judgment Dragon became stronger. This was the work of the law of causality.
The MATEs became the only hope of what remained of human civilization. so countries around the world tried to save mankind by putting MATE at the forefront.
But MATEs were also partly human, imperfect beings who still needed to gain control of their mind and body in order to be effective in defending against the Judgment Dragon. And evolution to a dragon required more.
In order to support the MATEs’ training and evolution, a new system was created whereby master trainers would work exclusive with the MATEs. The MASTER taught the MATEs to fight in battle and develop their sense of mission to save the remains of the human world.
The girls and young women, who were chosen as MATE, grew up to be warriors and learned the secrets to evolve into "Mythical Dragons."
Now, the MASTER and MATE had become one team as they faced the Judgment Dragon.
In the city's buildings, the Judgement dragon's warning system and
the slogan "MATE is the hope of mankind."
"Rage of the Judgment Dragon"
Chapter 4
Awakened Destiny - The Journey of Moria and Judel
Moria and Judel were two siblings who were born into a world that was already on the brink of disaster.
they were twin siblings, known for their exceptional intelligence and intuition.
Global warming was getting worse with each passing day, and the natural environment was severely damaged. They lived in a world where the Judgement-Dragon had wreaked havoc on humanity, leaving behind only a handful of survivors. People were beginning to feel hopeless about the future of the planet.
They have always been concerned about the growing imbalance between humans and nature, and the increasing damage to the natural environment.
One day, they witnessed the devastating power of the Judgement-Dragon when it appeared to punish the world for the destruction of its natural balance. they were on the front lines of the attack, documenting the destruction and helping survivors.
It was then that they realized the true extent of the problem and the urgency of finding a solution. They came to understand that the appearance of the Judgement-Dragon was nature's way of expressing its anger and frustration with the way humans were treating the Earth.
But Moria and Judel saw something else. They believed that hope would surely emerge.
In 2030, something miraculous happened. Baby girls with dragon characteristics were born. These girls were called MATE. and It evolved into a mythical dragon with irreplaceable absolute power.
Moria and Judel first heard about the birth of Mythical-Dragon girls when they were working as environmental journalists, investigating unusual events around the world. There was a rumor that there was a girl who looked like a dragon.
The girls' names were Celine and Akari. They were the first of the dragon humans.
Moria and Judel first met Celine and Akari when they were still infants. At the time, they were working for a humanitarian organization and were conducting a search and rescue mission in the aftermath of a Judgment-Dragon attack. They stumbled upon the two baby girls, who were both lying in the ruins of their destroyed homes, surrounded by the bodies of their dead parents.
The powerful Fire brethe of the Judgement-Dragon hit the city and the surrounding area was devastated.
However, the two girls were lying down without any burn damage and no major damage. Despite the fact that the area was devastated by the powerful fire breath of the Judgement-Dragon, the two girls were unharmed.
Moria and Judel felt a strong sense of awe and curiosity when they saw the two girls, who were both unharmed in the midst of the destruction caused by the Judgment Dragon. Moria and Judel were intrigued of their dragon-like features. They felt that the girls might hold some special power or significance, given their unusual resilience in the face of such a powerful attack.
At first, they weren't sure what to do with the girls, but as they began to learn more about their abilities, they became increasingly convinced that they should do everything in their power to protect them. They felt that these girls might be key to finding a solution to the ongoing crisis caused by the Judgment Dragon, and they didn't want to let such a valuable resource go to waste. They also felt a strong sense of responsibility to care for the girls, given that they had lost their families and were now alone in the world. With all of these factors in mind, Moria and Judel decided that they would take on the task of raising the girls and helping them to develop their powers.
The twin siblings became interested in these girls, and followed their stories closely as they grew up. They were amazed by the girls' strength, speed, and agility, and were even more impressed. Moria and Judel knew then that these girls were something special, and that they had to do something to help them and protect them from those who would use their powers for evil.
they decided that still have to protect the girls carefully until they grow up. It is not yet time for a formal organization to be established. Despite the chaos and danger around them, Moria and Judel felt a strong connection to the two infants, who they noticed had a strange dragon-like appearance. They felt a sense of responsibility to protect the girls and bring them to safety. they helped the dragon girls grow up safely. So Moria brought Celine to America to live with her and educate her. Judel took Akari to Japan to educate her in case of a possible danger.
Moria and Judel thought it dangerous to keep Celine and Akari together at the same time. Since the Judgement-Dragon cannot attack the east and west at the same time, it was to avoid danger even if one side was attacked and killed.
"First MASTER Moria and Judel"
Chapter 5
Identity in Chaos
As Celine and Akari grew up, their dragon abilities became more and more apparent. Moria and Judel soon realized that the girls were not just ordinary children, but were in fact a new race of beings Mythical-Dragon.
As Moria and Judel trained and educated Celine and Akari, they discovered their incredible potential as Mythical-Dragons. The girls were gifted with powerful abilities, but also with a natural instinct to protect and defend the human race against the Judgement-Dragon.
The twin siblings worked tirelessly to help the girls develop their powers and hone their skills, always wary of the threat posed by the Judgment Dragon. They taught the girls about their duties as Mythical-Dragons, and the importance of their role in protecting the world from destruction.
Despite the risks, Moria and Judel saw the incredible hope that the girls represented for the future of humanity. They knew that their work with Celine and Akari was crucial, not just for their own survival, but for the survival of all life on Earth.
As the girls grew stronger, so did the threat of the Judgment Dragon. Eventually, the dragon's attacks became more frequent and more violent, and it became clear that a formal organization was needed to coordinate the defense against the dragon.
With the Judgment Dragon continuing to wreak havoc on the world, Moria and Judel knew that the dragon girls would play a crucial role in saving the remains of humanity.
But as they prepared for their inevitable showdown with the Judgement Dragon, Moria and Judel knew that they couldn't let the girls face this challenge alone. MATE were also partly human, imperfect beings who still needed to gain control of their mind and body in order to be effective in defending against the Judgment Dragon. And evolution to a Mythical-dragon required more.
To support the MATEs’ training and evolution, Moria and Judel established a new system called "MASTER". The MASTER would act as a trainer for the MATEs, teaching them how to fight in battle and develop their sense of mission to save the remains of the human world
They decided to become the girls's "MASTER", helping to train and guide them in their fight against the dragon.
Eventually, Moria and Judel became "MASTER" of Celine Akari.
At this time, the concept of "MASTER" first came into being.
With Celine and Akari as the first MATEs, Moria and Judel took on the role of their MASTER, and worked to help them develop their abilities and prepare them for battle.
And as time went by, It was then that they started to hear rumors about MATE girls, who were appearing all over the world. more and more MATE with characteristics similar to Akari and Celine began to be discovered.
These girls possessed unique dragon-like powers and were often treated as mutants. However, due to their lack of training and understanding of their powers, they often caused harm to those around them.
Moria and Judel knew they had to do something to help these girls and protect the world from the Judgement-Dragon. That's when they decided to establish organization, which aimed to gather MATE girls from around the world, provide them with training and education, and help them harness their powers for the greater good.
This realization led Moria and Judel to establish the civilian military organization "The Mythical Dragon and Me -MATE-" (신수와 나), which aimed to gather MATE girls scattered around the world and train them to fight the Judgement-Dragon.
Chapter 6
ROOT
" The Mythical Dragon and Me -MATE- "
' 因果律 '
Writing, Character Design / CELDER
"Finding balance in causality through art"
this project is a creative story that combines the past, present, and future. It was composed through the addition of imagination through Fantasy. This story synthesizes both my thoughts on how human beings have caused the natural disasters we are experiencing and how we might resist and overcome these challenges.
This phenomenon that we are experiencing is all a result of causality. Life is a series of causes and effects(因果 ), and pleasure and pain are together, with pain following at the end of pleasure. There is joy at the end of suffering, but we need to get out of this repetition. The only way to solve this problem is 中道(the Middle Way). I'm getting complete happiness through this method. I'm not perfect either. However, I am satisfied with my life and I am living my values.
As a concept artist, I have spent nearly 20 years exploring and implementing the perfect balance of design. I constantly studied the balance of design, including the pros and cons of structural design and layout ratio, and as a result, I have been working as a commercial artist, creating successful designs and building a career.
Through these decades of repetitive processes, I have at some point jumped over the picture and explored my life balance, and now I have derived the results. I would like to say that 中道(the Middle Way) is not just a midpoint, but a point of view. The Earth is no exception to this law, and we need to find a balance between naturalism and the human desire to overcome it.
Joy and suffering are present in both humans and nature, and we can overcome our confrontational destiny through balance, seeking the middle. Here, naturalism is represented by the existence of the [Judgement-Dragon] and the phenomenon of self-purification in nature, while The desire to evolve to overcome nature is expressed as a [Mythical Dragon] and [MATE]
My goal is to create a worldview by combining this theme with the art that I do based on this topic. Finding balance in causality through art. I want to convey that the process of finding the interaction and balance between nature and humans is being expressed.
art vision
phase 1
In the future, I intend to expand my artistic worldview through "The Mythical Dragon and Me" -MATE- story and create a high-quality original art worldview that will feature captivating stories and characters in harmony with my artistic vision.
For me, "The Mythical Dragon and Me" -MATE- story is the culmination of my long and passionate journey through the world of character concept art. It represents a medium that connects past and present paintings, and it's the foundation upon which I will build my artistic universe.
My ultimate goal is to create a artworld that embodies my unique artistic vision and personal philosophy, while also resonating with the viewers on a deeper, emotional level. I want to create a world that people can immerse themselves in and explore its depth and intricacy.
I believe that great art requires a gradual process of discovery and exploration. Drawing is a significant source of life satisfaction for me on my journey of freedom and exploration.
Chapter 7
MASTER
( SUPPORTER )
"The Mythical Dragon and Me" -MATE- project will continue to grow based on digital assets. I'm sure all of this is possible because basically collectors were involved.
I would like to thank the collector for supporting me continue my art worldview story.
Thank you for your support!
-
First Release 2022. 5
I'm a Korean artist, so please understand that there may be a misunderstanding in the translation.
-
Second Release 2022. 12
English Translation Edit: @mobysnail
The collector and U.S. writer dear @mobysnail helped me with editing of the English translation.
It helped with the unnatural problem of the translation program and naturally edited the limited Korean contextual delivery into English. Thank you very much!
