Number 96, when not in its card form, appears as a black version of Astral. Like its other counterparts, Number 96 is a malicious entity who desires the power of the other Numbers so that it may become the most powerful of them all. However, it is cunning enough to allow itself to be absorbed by Astral so that it may possess him from the inside and steal his "Numbers." It also enjoys sadistically manipulating its hosts and brutally defeating its enemies.

Number 96 considers its card version to be its "other self." It also considers itself to be the "darkness" to Astral's "light."

(Source: Yu-Gi-Oh Wikia)