Batista Hoshi

Batista is highly intelligent, obsessive, and intensely driven by the belief that knowledge can create possibilities that would otherwise remain unavailable. As a scientist, he takes enormous pride in research that can improve lives and resents having his choices restricted because of outcomes that have not yet occurred.

He also struggles with comparison to Sandek. His older brother possesses exceptional combat ability, while Batista's own gravity powers are less impressive. Science becomes an area in which Batista can excel on his own terms, and his work on medicines and Choujin super-cells gives him a sense of purpose independent of his brother's reputation.

Batista is nevertheless capable of deep affection. His relationship with Hartley gives him a reason to imagine a future beyond Yamato Mori, research, and his insecurities.

Batista's original Choujin ability is gravity manipulation. He can alter gravitational forces around people and objects, levitate targets, restrain them in midair, fly, and construct gravitational barriers capable of repelling attacks. His control is substantial even though Sandek is the more accomplished gravity user.

His greatest natural strength is scientific intelligence. Batista studies Choujin super-cells and develops Ember, an experimental substance intended to awaken Choujin abilities in compatible people. His expertise extends through chemistry, medicine, and the biological mechanisms behind Choujin transformation.

After accepting Nue's power, Batista gains Haginaphony Pilfer, allowing him to graft parts taken from other Choujin onto his body and use their abilities. The resulting arsenal includes powers related to portals, blades, hallucination-producing moths, and other stolen abilities. His heavily modified body becomes the basis of the figure known as Noh Mask.

Batista's history begins inside Yamato Mori, where he serves as both Keeper and researcher. His work on Ember aims to artificially create additional Choujin, partly because he believes increasing their numbers could reduce the burden placed on existing Keepers.

Tsukiko Mado foresees disastrous consequences from the research and orders it stopped. Batista reluctantly accepts the decision and leaves Yamato Mori, attempting to live without his powers while working as a postman and building a civilian life with Hartley.

Hartley's death and the loss of their child destroy Batista's faith in accepting the future predicted for him. Repeated attempts to die fail because his Choujin body continues to Raise, leaving him trapped in the life he no longer wants. During this period of despair, he encounters Nue and accepts its offer of power in the hope of reclaiming what fate took from him.

Batista subsequently becomes the masked figure responsible for distributing XEMBER and manipulating numerous events surrounding Tokio. His identity as Noh Mask is concealed for much of the story, as is his connection to Sandek and the personal history behind his pursuit of Sora's Mark.

Hartley is Batista's scientific colleague and romantic partner during his Yamato Mori years. They marry after leaving the organization and expect a child together. Hartley's death and their stillborn child become the loss Batista cannot accept, driving his later obsession with stealing back the future he believes fate denied them.

Hoshi Sandek is Batista's older brother. Batista admires Hoshi Sandek but also struggles with living in the shadow of his exceptional strength. Their relationship becomes tragic once Batista's transformation and criminal activities place the brothers on opposing sides.

Tsukiko Mado profoundly influences Batista's life through her prophetic nightmares. Her warnings first cost him his research career and later predict the catastrophe surrounding Hartley's pregnancy, causing Batista to resent the idea that another person's foresight should determine his choices.

Sora Siruha becomes central to Batista's later plans because of the extraordinary power associated with her Mark.

Tokio Kurohara is drawn into Batista's plans through the artificial Choujin drug he develops. Batista's actions surrounding XEMBER are responsible for setting in motion the circumstances that transform Tokio into a Choujin.

Nue Kimera approaches Batista during his period of despair. Batista accepts Nue's offer and inherits the Depriver power that allows him to steal and combine the abilities of other Choujin.