Here's the first ideas.

As the boxer could be from any country from south east asia, and the hanuman is some sort of wukong, I think I'll go for the Dancer, as it might be more specific to the khmer culture.

So basically the Apsara is a minor water deity, some sort of nymph.
The idea is to have an elegant character using a string like weapon, with sharp tiny diamonds or sapphires shimmering like water.
I kinda hesitate to make a creepy old hag (II) for the contrast, but that would too much counter-intuitive right?
(IV) was to emphasize the slow movement of the aspara dance, like calm but dangerous water, but maybe the silhouette is to heavy and static.
I think I want something more fluid and elegant to be able to move like (III) which is a personnal interpretation of an actual khmer dancing pose. But I rather have more armor and shape like number (I).

So I pretty much want to start from (I) and (III) the first for the gear and the second for the overall movement idea. Any advice is welcome.

I really like the idea of the weapon, it will be interesting to see how you'll incorporate that string stuff with the Khmer culture (do they even use string as weapons? I actually don't know). Looks cool so far, have fun with your design!!

I like the fact that your early designs look so adorable already!
I find design elements on IV most interesting (her shoulder things an a helmet)
Just because of interesting silhouette

I am really attracted to the design 2. That is very unique design. I see your hesitation with making an old creepy character though, but you could always make her more elemental rather than human to bring more appeal. Really nice work and very inspirational.

Hey pals. Thanks to all your feedbacks I came to a sort of synthesis of all the previous ideas.
So I'll keep the silhouette more original with thos large wing like spalders, and helmet.
As for the weapon, I don't know if a lot of string like weapon really exist, Khmer culture is parented to Indian, and hinduism, and I know they got thise really thin wiggling blades.
The original idea was to have her manipulate thin water blades, I might go back to this something like thin stream of sharp water.

Cheers all and thanks again for your useful suggestions.

wow this is absolutely beautiful! and i like how you combined the ideas together!

Dancer definitely fits the Khmer theme - their empire was all about control of water and rivers, so a flowing character with lots of movement and loose gesture sounds like it will fit the theme very well. I know that modern Thai/Cambodia (I know that today they are distinct cultures, but they were once all part of the Khmer kingdoms) arts has some of the world's best brass work, so maybe make her skin brass or something? Random thought.