WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 6 of Tower of God, "Position Selection," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The final bout of the Crown Game in Tower of God's last episode leaves Bam in the worst shape he's been in since entering the mysterious Tower. After inadvertently causing an explosion of Shinsu -- cut short by the intervention of the Black March's spirit -- while protecting Rachel, Bam collapses into a coma that lasts for five days. By the time he wakes up in this week's episode, "Position Selection," he finds that not only has Rachel rejected him, but he's also lost the Black March to Anak. Thankfully, he doesn't allow these setbacks to dampen his spirits too much. In fact, he takes them in his stride.
Bam's loss of Rachel -- for the second time -- doesn't even happen while he's conscious. While Khun watches over his resting teammate in bed, Rachel pays him a visit. She asks him to protect her identity from Bam: "If we're together, we'll become each other's weakness. A burden. It's what's best for both of us," to Khun incredulously replies: "Best for you." Though unhappy about the idea of lying to his new friend, Khun knows a thing or two about "self-indulgent women," and decides to comply with her request, if only to "protect" Bam from her.
Bam, however, doesn't buy Khun's explanation that it's just a case of mistaken identity because, well, he saw Rachel with his own eyes while her hood was down during the Crown Game. Desperate to understand why she wants to distance herself from him, he goes to the room she's occupying during the group's downtime, only to discover from the name on the door that she's going by "Michelle Light," now. With a heavy heart, he walks away, deciding to respect her decision.
As for the Black March, Bam's loss of the legendary sword came as a result of his deal with Anak during the Crown Game. The "Princess" of Jahad (in name alone) bet her own 13 Month Series weapon, the Green April, on Bam's team winning the game. As there were no winners in the end, it seems Anak was able to collect her prize, though the Black March's spirit refuses to do anything for anyone who isn't a "handsome man." Anak's plan costs her teammates Shibisu and Hatz, who ally themselves with Bam and Khan instead after promising they've cut ties with the angry green-skinned girl for her unwillingness to play nice.
Being broken up with while in a coma and losing his one, visible advantage should have been enough to send Bam into a downward spiral. Instead, he bounces back with aplomb. There's nothing like a pep talk from a friend after romantic rejection, and Khun is on-hand to do just that. Whether she is or isn't Rachel, he reasons, Bam's best option is to keep getting stronger by climbing the Tower. Either he'll eventually run into the real Rachel, or impress "Michelle" enough to win her over. If that isn't enough, he gifts Bam a swish, all-black suit to replace his now-bloodied and torn original clothes. With his spirits lifted and his appearance made-over, Bam confidently tells Anak that he respects the result of their bet and won't try and reclaim the Black March from her. After all, it isn't his to claim in the first place.
It's clear, anyway, that Bam's latent potential as an Irregular could be more than enough to see him through the challenges ahead without the weapon's assistance. After he's assigned his battle position, he learns how to make a contract with this floor's Guardian so that he can start training to manipulate Shinsu -- consciously, this time. Perhaps in time, Bam will become less focussed on chasing after someone who keeps him at arm's length and instead on his own growth as a person.
