Cross Marian

Cross Marian is Allen's teacher, a sorcerer and scientist. His most distinguishing features are his long, vibrant red hair and a Phantom of the Opera-esque mask on the right side of his face. In the manga, when Allen is rescued by him, he is seen to be wearing a skull, after which the skull shrinks back to a cross over his right eye, possibly due to a curse. He is shown to be a gruff, demanding individual who is hard to please. In fact, for most of the time, when he addresses Allen, he usually calls him "Idiot apprentice." He also has a habit of going into debt and making Allen (as well as anyone working under him or looking for him for that matter) work it off for him, and appears to be popular with women, with some characters calling him a 'womaniser'. It is revealed by Bookman that Cross has the unique ability to convert Akuma, making them work under his orders. The method of conversion is unknown, though it is most likely the power of the " Grave of Maria", which has been shown to control other characters in the series. Marian seems to be the only person the Earl is seriously worried about, a worry justified by the fact that Cross was able to slow down the download of the Akuma plant aboard the Ark. Cross has stated that he only lets clean people near him and can't stand filth, except if the dirty person is a gorgeous woman.

He left on a journey and stopped corresponding with HQ for four years. Allen fears him, which is hinted from the fact most of his flashbacks that connect to his teacher end with some kind of traumatizing (usually humorous) experience. It is implied that Cross and the Earl have met/fought a number of times in the past when the Earl saved Tyki from Cross and Cross's reply was "making a flashy entrance as always, fatso". It is known that before the 14th Noah's death, he and Cross knew each other, given Cross' extensive knowledge of the 14th.

He made his first real appearance saving his team from Tyki's new form on board the Ark, and then helps them restore the Ark. Although he tried to escape being sent back to the Black Order HQ, Lenalee's pleading for him to come breaks his resolve and he returns to HQ along with the rest of the Cross team and Tiedoll team of Exorcists. He is given a 'desk job' after returning, effectively a form of imprisonment. He later appears with the other generals to fight off Lulubell and her army of Lvl 3 Akuma. They succeed in destroying the Akuma and causing damage to the Akuma Plant. However, Cross is incapacitated along with the rest of the generals by the newly born Lvl 4 Akuma. Later, he disabled the Level 4 Akuma using Carte Garde and emerged from the rubble, injured but defiant. He then demonstrated that his strength is more than capable of standing against the Level Four Akuma alone, overwhelming it with fire from Judgement and forcing it to flee but still be destroyed.

It has been shown that Cross Marian wields two anti-Akuma weapons. While other Exorcists Generals have been known to carry multiple Innocence shards, Cross is the first to display the ability to use more than one Innocence shard at the same time. His skill with his Innocence is great as he was able to take down Tyki Mikk's transformed state without much trouble, while Allen couldn't so much as land a wounding strike.

Cross was kept under constant surveillance by Leverier and Central after he returned and was not permitted to speak to Allen who was also under tight security and pending an investigation. Levrier finally allowed a brief meeting between Cross and Allen where Cross revealed Allen was in fact the 14th Noah and that he would eventually lose himself to the Noah's memories and kill someone he loves. Before the meeting comes to an abrupt end, Cross embraces Allen - showing his first true signs of compassion for him - and questions why of all the no-good people in the world the 14th had to chose a kid like Allen to be his host. He then jokes that he can no longer make fun of Tiedoll whom Cross ridiculed for being so attached to his apprentices.

Shortly after the meeting, Cross is apparently assasinated. This is not proven as there is no body. However, Judgment was taken to Hevlaska and she confirmed that Cross Marian was no longer its host. In addition, Allen can no longer use Timcanpy's tracking ability to find Cross. Leverier claimed recently that it was a central member who committed this act. All that remains of General Cross as of now is his broken mask and the message he left for Allen with Timcampy, which reads as follows:

"Hey, Allen...Come to think of it, I never asked you this before, but...do you like Tim? I asked you to keep hold of him for me but...To be honest, I was always planning on giving him to you. I've told Tim he can do as he likes from now on. You may not want to listen to me, knowing that I'm carrying on the fourteenth's will..But in case you're thinking you're being made to walk a path me and the fourteenth chose for you...I just wanted to tell you you're wrong. A path is something you create as you walk it. The ground you've trodden hardens, and that's what forms your path. You're the only one that can create your own path. So stop wearing that mask of "Mana". Walk on your own. If you haven't given up yet, that is."

Allen claims that he is angry by Cross's words, saything that, "No matter how many times I listen, it sounds like a last request or something...It ticks me off." He states that this kind of behavior is not like the master he knew.

Anti-AKUMA Weapon
Judgement (断罪者): This equipment-type Innocence takes the form of a large caliber revolver with an undermounted barrel. Cross is able to fire several bullets in rapid succession, often emptying his rounds in a split-second. These bullets will not cease until they hit their target. A symbol in form of a cross can be seen wherever these bullets hit (even on barriers). Cross has also shown an attack ability called 'Arrow Of Original Sin' (原罪の矢), which forms the shape of a demon-like bow around Judgement as a cross symbol appears in front of it. This ability was used by Cross to attack the Akuma Egg during Lulu Bell's attempt to overthrow Headquarters. Recently, Cross has shown the ability to use Judgement at a "purging level," which allows him to launch a large, devastating attack with a cross symbol on it similar to the crosses made by his regular bullets. This attack swelled and bloated the Level 4 Akuma and rendered it unable to defend itself.

Grave of Maria (聖母ノ柩): This parasitic-type Innocence doesn't belong to General Cross himself, but to Maria, an Exorcist with a parasite type innocence. It has been remarked by Allen that Cross is able to use magic to control Maria's corpse during a fight therefore allowing him to also use her Innocence. It takes the form of a large, flattened coffin wrapped with a long chain. When the chain is removed, the coffin opens to reveal a beautiful woman in a fancy dress with a large bow tied over her eyes, which makes it slightly reminiscent of a butterfly. This 'woman' is in fact the corpse of Maria. With the defensive ability 'Magdala Curtain' (聖母ノ加護), Maria uses her song to create illusions that can conceal the presence of others. She also has another ability called "Carte Garde" which allows her (or Cross) to control the person's movements by affecting the brain. Lavi has pointed out that Cross Marian's use of the "Grave of Maria" anti-Akuma weapon is unorthodox and forbidden.