Lynx (ヤマネコ Yamaneko?) is the main antagonist of Chrono Cross and one of the primary antagonists of Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Hōseki. He serves as Serge and his party's main nemesis and Serge's biological father Wazuki until he was corrupted by the FATE supercomputer.
Appearance
Lynx appears as a feline demi-human with a cat-like face with amber eyes.
He wears a black standard military outfit that consists of a long black high neck trench coat tied in a purple obi, a dark gray sash in each side of his trench coat, black military pants and dark gray boots. He also wears large black gauntlets in gold outlines, a gold military hat on his head and wears a black short mantle at the back as the interior of it is yellow.
As Wazuki, he has messy blue hair like his son, Serge. His chin and jaws were well-defined and sprinkled with 5 o'clock shadow. Though unlike Serge, who has amber-colored eyes, Wazuki's eyes were blue. He also wears a red bandanna on his forehead and wears similar clothing as his son's.
Storyline
Chrono Cross
He is the biological emissary of the FATE supercomputer. Lynx was shaped from Serge's father, Wazuki; when Wazuki took Serge to be healed by the Frozen Flame in Chronopolis, he was corrupted by its emanations and subsequently was subject to mind control by the FATE supercomputer. Since the Prometheus Circuit locked FATE's access to the Frozen Flame, FATE shaped Lynx with the objective of killing Serge and restoring the connection. Total control was achieved in 1010 A.D., the year in which FATE had Wazuki attempt to drown his son. Regardless of whether it succeeded in either dimension, this effectively wiped the last remnants of Wazuki's mind and care for Serge, allowing him to be physically reconfigured to resemble the panther demon that attacked Serge in 1006 A.D. Lynx had a sentience and personality out of his own apart from FATE; he became sadistic and manipulative, motivated only to achieve his goal while sating his own sick desires in the process. In Another World, FATE reasoned that Serge would cross the dimensions in 1020 A.D.; Lynx was called back to set up events that would take advantage of this fact. He was sent abroad to Porre and home to Viper Manor in order to play the two parties to set up FATE's plan; he was joined by Harle around this time, who accompanied him.
FATE grew impatient in 1015 A.D., and sent Lynx to Lucca's house to abduct the famous scientist and use her to disengage the Prometheus Circuit. Lynx set fire to the entire orphanage, nearly killing all the children in the process. Lucca eventually did not acquiesce to his desires, and probably died as well. A young Kid developed a scathing hatred of the man, who she remembered from the fire. Lynx then continued to pique both Porre and the Acacia Dragoon's curiosity concerning the Frozen Flame; by 1020 A.D., Porre stood ready to invade, and the Acacia Dragoons were at Lynx's beck and call. His plan was to lure Serge to Fort Dragonia and then undertake a ritual to switch bodies with him. This would fool the Chronopolis defense system into thinking Lynx was Serge. He tried to capture the boy early on after Serge raided Viper Manor, but this proved unsuccessful. Knowing that Serge would follow him to the fort anyway, he withdrew with the Dragoons and made preparations. When Serge came, he stabbed General Viper in the back and undertook the ritual; after its completion, he stabbed Kid as well, though he later spared her and adopted her as his new traveling companion. He then somehow sent Serge into the Temporal Vortex and returned to Chronopolis while wreaking havoc on the way.
He anticipated Serge's return, and launched an offensive on the boy and his friends at Hermit's Hideaway. He was thwarted by Fargo, who escorted Serge to safety. Lynx then lay in wait at Fort Dragonia in Home World, where he battled the boy once again, duly retreating after his defeat. He kept Kid with him as he returned to Chronopolis; there, he waited for a final showdown with Serge. His close proximity to the FATE computer allowed him to be reshaped into a horrific and terrible adversary, but even in this form, he was vanquished by the young boy along with the FATE supercomputer. His last words mentioned that he was not supposed to die, in effect revealing that he was not privy to the full scope of Project Kid as planned by Belthasar. This marked the end of Lynx, whose state in death was a far cry from the loving, ordinary father Serge once knew.
Whether two copies of Lynx exist across the dimensions is unknown. In Home World, a Lynx was able to dupe Porre and the Acacia Dragoons as well, eventually deciding that the Acacia Dragoons would be better off dead. He led them into the Dead Sea, where they were phased out of normal time and frozen before the final gate. Whether this was the doing of a Home World version of Lynx who froze as well or whether Lynx simply had the power to cross the dimensions is unknown.
Radical Dreamers
Usurper of Viper manor, Lynx is the holder of the Frozen Flame. Enticed by the gem's power, Kid, along with Gil and Serge, seeks to steal the Frozen Flame. Spying on his infiltrators, Lynx silently watches as they investigate his Manor and weasel their way in and out the traps he lays for them. The inhabitants of the Manor, namely Riddel and Esmeld, loathe him and are all too eager to assist the thieves with finding the Flame.
While exploring the estate, the party learns Lynx fooled General Viper into securing the Frozen Flame before double-crossing him. Lynx even influences the General's Dragoons into assisting him. Radius is one such Dragoon, lured by the promise of power. When Kid finally confronts Lynx, she learns he lured her there so as to unite the Flame with the Chrono Trigger to enhance his power. It is here, in the ruins of Zeal, which was his sanctuary, that he shamelessly admits to murdering Lucca. Eventually Vera shows up with an army, which forces Lynx to flee, leaving his ultimate fate to remain unknown.
Former Humanity
Like Serge, Wazuki has messy blue hair. One can expect that Serge may have grown up to resemble his father's human appearance since he appears as an aged, more refined version of the game's protagonist. His chin and jowls were well-defined and sprinkled with 5 o'clock shadow. Though unlike Serge, who has amber-colored eyes, Wazuki's eyes were blue.
Not much is known about his personality aside from what we are shown in the flashback sequences involving him. But from what is seen, he seemed to be a very kind and devoted father who would do anything for his family, as shown from what he was willing to do to save his son's life.
How to Join
Serge is forced to switch bodies with Lynx during the events at the end of Fort Dragonia in Another World, and thus, you automatically recruit him.
Boss Fight
- Main article: Lynx (Boss)
Lynx is fought twice, first in Viper Manor and again in Fort Dragonia. He uses the Elements HellSoul, HellBound, Imbecile, AntiWhite, and Brimstone. And his special moves such as Glide Hook and Feral Cats as Dark Serge.
Pros
- Strongest available character for a large portion of the game
- Large Element Grid
Cons
- Unavailable for most of the game
Tech Skills
- GlideHook - 3 Stars
- FeralCats - 15 Stars
- ForeverZero - 35 Stars
Trivia
- Lynx's feline appearance, the fact that he manifests as a male incarnation of FATE in the final battle with him, and his large black and gold color scheme are likely a reference to Tezcatlipoca (Wikipedia:Tezcatlipoca), the Aztec god of fate, black magic, and chaos. In Aztec myth, Tezcatlipoca was identified with and would take the form of a jaguar - the animal that attacked Serge as a child. This would also justify the tribal-sounding music that plays in the Boss battle with FATE. In Incan mythology, the cougar (which Lynx is identified as) has a similar role to the jaguar in Mesoamerican mythologies.
- When in battle as Lynx the first time (at Fort Dragonia) against Serge, Kid, and your third party member, he comes equipped with his Scythe. This is the only battle where you can use his weapon. Also, Lynx doesn't have the GlideHook Tech Skill. Instead, he comes with Dash&Slash.
- In New Game +, if the Spectra Swallow is on the save file, he uses a different Scythe that shares the stats of the Spectra Swallow and the glowing effect that shifts with the colors of the rainbow.
- There was an unused alternate portrait for Lynx (shown below) that was supposed to be implemented spanning the time Serge spends in his body. The expression on his face is clearly indicative of Serge's kinder nature and is what would have tipped off others who knew him that Lynx wasn't looking or behaving in his usual sinister way. However, since the portrait wasn't utilized (except in the shop menu), the characters merely mention he's not like his usual self, but there's nothing to show the player how the characters come to this conclusion.
| Chrono Cross Playable Characters | |
Innate White  |
Doc - Pip - Riddel - Serge - Starky - Steena |
Innate Black  |
Grobyc - Guile - Harle - Luccia - Lynx - Mojo - Skelly |
Innate Red  |
Draggy - Greco - Janice - Kid - Macha - Miki - Orcha - Zappa |
Innate Blue  |
Fargo - Irenes - Korcha - Leena - Marcy - Nikki - Orlha - Pierre |
Innate Yellow  |
Funguy - Leah - Mel - Norris - Poshul - Sneff - Viper - Zoah |
Innate Green  |
Glenn - Karsh - NeoFio - Radius - Razzly - Sprigg - Turnip - Van |
| Characters |
| Playable Characters |
| Serge - Kid - Gil |
| Non-playable characters |
| Lynx - Riddel - General Viper - Vera - Zorander - Grismeld -
Merkid - Lucca - Schala - Serge's Grandchild - Radius - Noella - Pollen - Siren - Shea |
| Locations |
| Viper Manor |
| Terrace - Study - Ballroom - Armory - Catacombs - Riddel's Room - Lynx's Quarters - Kitchenette - Atrium - Torture Room - Gear Room - Treasure Room - Dark Forest - Zeal Ruins |
| Porre |
| Enemies |
| Goblin - Skeleton - Feral Cat - Piranha - Gryphon - Demonic Warlock - Poltergheist - Devil Circle - Lilith |
| Items |
| Potion - Treasure Room Key - Catacombs Key - Gold Crown -
Frozen Flame - Einlanzer - Dragoon Ring - Chrono Trigger |
| Key Terms |
| Mouth of Truth - Music Box - Mirror of Whispers - Golden Beetle - Acacia Dragoons |