Noh Mask

Noh Mask is calculating, secretive, patient, and scientifically obsessive. He rarely exposes himself unnecessarily, preferring intermediaries, experiments, and carefully prepared plans to straightforward confrontation.

His scientific curiosity is inseparable from his willingness to mutilate both himself and other Choujin. Bodies and supernatural abilities are materials he can dissect, transplant, refine, and recombine.

He can nevertheless form strong personal attachments. His descent into increasingly extreme experimentation originates partly in profound personal loss and a desperate attempt to understand and manipulate Choujin biology.

Noh Mask possesses Haginaphony Pilfer, an ability that lets him graft body parts from other Choujin onto himself and gain access to their powers. His stitched body consequently contains an expanding arsenal rather than one conventional Choujin specialty.

His known powers include gravity manipulation, portal creation, Loaned Sword techniques, sharp wire, Partial Beastification, poisonous moths, psychologically destructive eye abilities, and Mimic. He is also an accomplished swordsman and can use Raise.

His scientific expertise is equally dangerous. He developed or contributed to drugs affecting Choujin physiology and created XEMBER using blood connected to Sora's power.

Noh Mask's ability to accumulate stolen powers eventually transforms his body into the foundation of the Nue Chimera, making his search for suitable abilities part of a much larger attempt to transcend the limitations of an ordinary Choujin.

Noh Mask's actions quietly initiate the main story. The XEMBER injections that reach Johnny Takeyama's gang ultimately result in Tokio and Azuma becoming Choujin.

He subsequently employs other Choujin to locate the person who transformed through the missing injection, bringing Tokio into conflict with Nari and later with Ririka and Ricardo Terror.

Noh Mask is eventually revealed to be Batista Hoshi, the younger brother of Yamato Mori Protector Hoshi Sandek and a former Keeper and researcher within the organization. His knowledge of Yamato Mori and Choujin biology therefore comes from years spent inside the institution he now opposes.

His experiments, stolen abilities, XEMBER research, and pursuit of the Mark of the Beast gradually place him at the center of the struggle over who will inherit the power of Choujin X.

Hoshi Sandek has a deeply personal connection to Noh Mask. Noh Mask is Sandek's younger brother Batista, turning their opposition into the continuation of a family tragedy rather than a conflict between strangers.

Sora Siruha provides the supernatural foundation for much of Noh Mask's research. Her blood is used in the development of XEMBER, while her Mark eventually becomes one of the most important objects of his ambitions.

Nari Tsumiji works for Noh Mask when he needs information about the Choujin created by the missing XEMBER injection.

Ririka Umezawa and Ricardo Terror operate as mercenaries under Noh Mask's direction.

Chandra Hume works within the same network surrounding the Tower of Mourning, although their priorities do not always align.

Tokio Kurohara becomes one of Noh Mask's principal targets because of his unusual response to XEMBER.