Mammon Machine
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In the RPG Chrono Trigger, the Mammon Machine (まじんき Demon Machine) (most likely named after Mammon the demon of greed) was a device made of dreamstone, which amplified and tapped the energies of Lavos. Built by the Enlightened Ones, it was ultimately the source of their magical power. By communing with the Mammon Machine, they could draw upon the power of Lavos, which supposedly reinvigorated their magic. It is speculated by many fans that, because the Mammon Machine was an intermediary between humans and Lavos, without regular visits to it the Zealians would lose their powers. This is supported by the fact that after Zeal is destroyed by Lavos, the Enlightened Ones complain of losing their magic.
Queen Zeal, seeking more and more of Lavos's energies, orders the construction of the Ocean Palace. The Machine is moved from the Zeal Palace to the Ocean Palace to bring it even closer to Lavos, tapping his full power. Crono and his party travel to the Ocean Palace to foil Zeal's plans, and they reach the inner sanctum just as the Queen Zeal is forcing Schala to raise the power of the Mammon Machine to its limit. Using the Ruby Knife given to them by Melchior, Crono attempts to destroy the machine. The knife is made of dreamstone, just like the machine, and thus it should be capable of stopping it. As the knife is thrust into the Mammon Machine, it is transfigured into the Masamune.
This fails to stop the Machine, and the energy of Lavos quickly spirals out of control in a chain reaction. Because so much of his energy is being drawn off, Lavos awakens. The ensuing events end with Lavos destroying the Zeal islands, severely damaging the Ocean Palace, and killing Crono. When the Ocean Palace again rises from the sea, it becomes the Black Omen. The Mammon Machine is revealed to have been crippled by the Masamune's strike, but it is still functional, despite consisting of several crushed fragments. The machine's pieces rest inside the Black Omen. When the player approaches the crumpled machine they are taken to the same mysterious blue realm in which they battle Lavos. They face a new, apparently-reconstructed Mammon Machine, silver in color as opposed to the original gold tones. It is fought as a boss, and it seems to be capable of defending against intruders. The machine is finally destroyed, and the party goes on to fight Queen Zeal afterwards.
In fitting with the continuity of Chrono Cross, the Mammon Machine raises some new questions. The machine was made of dreamstone which only amplified power rather than displaying any sort of life force as it appears to do at times (because the player must fight the machine, for example). As the Frozen Flame from Chrono Cross was a living shard of Lavos, it is suggested by a few fans that perhaps the flame had been found by the Zealians and inserted into the core of the Mammon Machine to commune with Lavos and amplify the energy. This is supported by evidence from Radical Dreamers where it is suggested through quotes by Gil/Magil (who is actually Magus in disguise) that the citizens of a "Magic Kingdom" once found the Frozen Flame, and it led to their downfall. As for now, the issue is left open by the official Chrono series canon, and until the developers clarify this, many interpretations are available for fans to consider.
