TV-Series
Description
Cross is a significant supporting character in the anime Avenger, serving as a mentor and a pivotal figure from the main protagonist Layla Ashlee's past. He is an older, bald man with a beard and gray eyes, and his appearance reflects his life as a hardened survivor on the harsh terraformed landscape of Mars.

His background is tied to the "Original Dozen," a group of twelve individuals who were the first to settle on Mars. Within this group, Cross was originally known as Ares, but he left the domed cities after a serious disagreement with another member named Volk. While Volk sought to consolidate power and control over the new Martian society, Cross rejected this path and chose to live in the wild, dangerous lands outside the domes.

Cross's most significant role is his relationship with Layla. He was the one who saved her as a young child when the colony ship she was traveling on with her parents was destroyed in an attack ordered by Volk. Following this traumatic event, Cross took her in and became her surrogate father and guardian. He raised her away from civilization, training her in the brutal and effective fighting style of the gladiator, which directly shapes Layla into the formidable warrior she is as the story begins. His teachings made her capable of defeating any challenger, but they also instilled in her a deep-seated drive for revenge against Volk.

As a character, Cross is defined by a complex mix of stoicism and a hidden, caring nature. He initially appears as a mysterious and harsh figure, having trained Layla to be a weapon of survival. However, his motivations are more nuanced than simple brutality. After spending years with Layla, he ultimately wishes to free her from the all-consuming cycle of vengeance that he helped set her on. When he reappears in her life, he tries to guide her to find a purpose beyond killing and revenge, seeking to heal the psychological wounds he was forced to harden in order for her to survive the wilderness.

His development is tragic and final. The climax of his personal story occurs when he confronts Layla one last time. In their encounter, he attempts to show her a different path and break her obsession with the past. However, Layla is too consumed by her quest. The result is a duel in which Layla kills her mentor, severing her final tie to her childhood and solidifying her commitment to her path of retribution.

Regarding abilities, Cross is a master of combat. As a surviving member of the Original Dozen and a seasoned dweller of the Martian wastes, he possesses immense physical prowess and intimate knowledge of gladiator fighting techniques. His most notable ability is his skill as a teacher, as he successfully transferred all of his fighting knowledge to Layla, making her his equal and eventual successor in combat.