Desty Nova, known simply as Nova in the live-action film, is a renegade scientist originally from the floating sky city of Zalem, also referred to as Tiphares in some translations. He was cast out from Zalem because of his inhumane and unethical experiments, which he conducted in his relentless pursuit of knowledge. Nova is the father of Kaos, a frail radio DJ with psychometric abilities. He is marked by a highly eccentric, brilliant, and creative mind, specializing in nanotechnology and cybernetics. His personality is that of a classic mad scientist, driven primarily by his own whims and his obsession with understanding karma, psychological capacity, and the boundaries of human potential. He craves the freedom to experiment on living subjects without restriction, which is why he left the controlled environment of Zalem for the chaotic world of the Scrapyard. In terms of role, Nova is a primary antagonist and the mastermind behind many of the enemies and trials that Alita faces throughout the story, though he does not appear in person until well into the narrative. He operates as a puppet master, pulling strings from the shadows. In the live-action film, he is depicted as a powerful and manipulative scientist residing in Zalem who orchestrates events on the ground, using agents like Vector and the deadly cyborg Grewishka to do his bidding and to attempt to destroy Alita. He speaks through Vector at one point, revealing his direct involvement and his threatening demeanor. His key relationships include his distant and troubled connection with his son, Kaos, and his complex, ever-changing relationship with Alita. A dream sequence in the source material suggests that under different circumstances, he could have been a loving and protective father figure to her. He is responsible for resurrecting or modifying several characters, including Makaku, Jashugan, and even Alita herself after she is killed by a bomb. Nova's development is notable for his pseudo-immortality; he has injected himself with nanomachines that can repair dismemberment and reconstruct his body from nearly any damage, making him extremely difficult to permanently defeat. He also possesses deep knowledge of the secret of Zalem, a truth so disturbing it could drive its citizens insane. His most notable abilities include his genius-level expertise in nanotechnology, cybernetics, and advanced science, which allow him to create powerful cyborgs, resurrect the dead, and grant himself near-immortality. In the film, he also demonstrates the capacity to remotely control or communicate through other individuals like Vector. Overall, Nova is the overarching figure of menace and intellectual chaos, whose actions continually shape the world and Alita's journey, embodying the dangerous intersection of brilliance and amorality.