Twenty-Fifth Baam/Abilities and Powers

Part 1
In Part I, Baam is very weak, having no particular skills except his courage. Later in the story, Baam is shown to be a prodigy at manipulating Shinsoo (unlike most Regulars). He learns techniques that many Rankers take decades to learn, in mere seconds. Ren even considered him to be a possible RED candidate if he'd become a Ranker. By the end of Part 1, he killed the Bull, a feat which even Anak and Androssi couldn't pull off, by himself no less. However, it is later revealed that the water of the tank in which the test was held had Shinsoo-enhancing properties which gave Baam a significant boost in power.

Agility: Baam is very agile; he can dodge sword blows very effectively. After his training with Androssi he became a monster at avoiding things.

Intuition: Despite not being much of a fighter, Baam has good fighting instincts, as shown when he correctly determines a Steel Eel's weakness within a few seconds. Even with dealing with something unrelated to fighting, he is able to find ways prolong playing a board game with Rachel with tactics, resulting in Rachel spending more time with him. It seems that Baam is able to find the best or quickest solution to a problem within his realm of influence.

Shinsoo Resistance (신수 저항, Shinsoo Jeohahng): Normally, a person would have immense difficulty moving in an area with an enormous density of Shinsoo as shown by the fact that female Steel Eels live within this area during breeding season. However, Baam has demonstrated an amazing resistance to Shinsoo pressure, being able to move freely even in a dense Shinsoo environment, proving that he excels highly on such a field. This is also displayed during Lero-Ro's test when Baam was unaffected by the Shinsoo barrier that Lero-Ro, a Ranker, had cast, while the majority of the participating Regulars found it hard to pass or failed. He was blasted by a powerful wave of Shinsoo by Hong Chunhwa's Ignition Weapon, Namaruda, and emerged relatively unscathed by the attack.

Shinsoo Reading: In Part 1, he was able to see the white aura around Anak, which the other Regulars were not able to do, thus allowing him to tie against Lero-Ro in their bet regarding who would pass through the barrier first. In Part 2, he noticed the parasite that was controlling Yihwa and pulled it out with his bare hands. These two things imply that he is able to read Shinsoo just like Laure does.

Shinsoo Genius: Though Baam initially knew nothing of Shinsoo, his ability to control Shinsoo is immense as well as his ability to rapidly learn new techniques - so much so that Ren (considered a genius Wave Controller) was astonished by his ability on the Floor of Test. For example, he learns the Fast Skip technique within a few seconds and rapidly becomes able to use it at a reasonable range, which Quant reveals took him decades to learn. Baam's potential far exceeds the normal Regulars and in one instance it appeared the Shinsoo around him attacked Hwa Ryun of its own accord. He is also able to use Shinsoo baangs without having formed a contract with a Guardian, something that is considered both impossible and against the very laws of The Tower.

Shinsoo Aura: Though it's unconfirmed whether this is a result of Viole being an Irregular (like Red Tower Enryu's influence on it) or because of his current fighting style, Shinsoo tends to turn into a dark blue-almost-black smoke when used by him.







Part 2
In Part II, Viole has become so adept in combat that others are beginning to fear his strength and avoid him entirely. He is now openly declared a "monster" even by Rankers such as Love. Ja Wangnan describes him as the "Demon". He entirely overpowered the Regulars on the 20th Floor and has accomplished many feats that are far above the capabilities of an E-Rank Regular. Such feats include handling a 2-on-1 battle against Akraptor and Horyang, another 2-on-2 fight against Novick and Ran (both of whom are in the Top 10 Strongest E-rank Regulars) and another recent 2-on-1 battle against Ship Leesoo's team members Vespa and Aleksai regardless of his inabilty to use Shinsoo at the time. His notoriety has risen to the point where he is being compared to the Zahard's Princesses in terms of raw power. He can now make and reliably control at least five baangs of Shinsoo, an unheard-of feat; only a handful of E-Rank Regulars capable of utilising 3 baangs. During the fight with Reflejo at the workshop battle, he was able to use 6 baangs.

Exceeding Agility: In Part II, his speed increases to the point where he can appear next to someone to deliver a punch in a flash. However his speed is not of Ranker-level yet as Love is able to outrun him to his connector. Regardless, he is almost always seen to be faster than all of the opponents he has faced, even if in a handicapped position.

High Intelligence: In Part II, he has shown a lot of knowledge on various topics such about the Tower that he did not know about in Part I. This is likely due to the training he received from FUG. Another example of his intelligence is in his ability to outsmart Androssi using Emile and to locate Beta despite the latter's attempts to fool his own pursuers.

Martial Arts: Viole displays knowledge of various fighting styles. He was trained by a High Ranker from the Ha Family, Ha Jinsung, although it is unknown what schools or types of arts he knows. He also uses Shinsoo to enhance his skills to great effect. But even without Shinsoo, because of his knowledge in fighting, he was able to battle almost on par with Aleksai.

Exceptional Shinsoo Resistance: In Part II, he is unfazed by the level of Shinsoo that the average Regular can use. However, he was still somewhat hurt by Love's attacks (whether or not he chose not to dodge is still under speculation). He was also "stopped" by Love, so his Shinsoo Resistance is still not up to the level of being able to completely resist a Ranker's and not to mention a High-Ranker's techniques. However, he was able to survive Urek Mazino's "Supreme King's Scorching Fist of Death" technique, a truly exceptional feat, even though he was left in a bloodied state. It is also possible that the damage inflicted from him is because of "Floral Butterfly: Piercing Technique", since it is a deadly technique that can damage the user itself.

Shinsoo Control and Amplified Shinsoo Beams: He seems to hold an excessive amount of Shinsoo, at least for the standards of E-Ranks, as he is always shown in battles to blast massive amounts of Shinsoo at opponents simultaneously. He is also able to create six baangs. Quaetro Blitz states that even the top 5 E-Ranked Regulars can probably only create 4 baangs at most. He almost exclusively creates baangs to use as Shinsoo Beams.

(Double-Handed) Shinsoo Punch: In Part II, Viole has a new technique that involves him using Shinsoo to reinforce his normal punches to the point where one punch is able to crack the floor. He can extend the Shinsoo to strike from far away as well. He seldom uses it after its first appearance hinting that it may be one of his weaker techniques.

Shinsoo Bomb (Delayed): In Part II, Viole uses a technique that uses Shinsoo to form a bomb that releases a beam of Shinsoo a few seconds after it's formation.

Shinsoo Barrier: He has been shown to be able to create a small Shinsoo barrier to block Shinsoo beams. Viole is also shown to be able to use flames to create a shield when fighting Urek. He was also shown to use Lighthouses to enhance the power of his barrier in his fight with Novick and Ran.

Healing Exoskeleton: When Viole is wounded, a crimson lobster-like exoskeleton forms on the exterior of his body which heals his wounds. However, it is not effective for every wound, as it was not activated after his battle with Urek Mazino. Ja Wangnan observes that it must have limits to the degree of wounds it can heal. Horyang suspects that it may be an example of a living Ignition Weapon. Viole has no idea of its true identity nor how to utilize it upon command. Though it is mentioned that the lobster was originally a demon that rivalled a god and is able to ignite the true thorn. Viole commented to Horyang that it was implanted within him by F.U.G. when he was first recruited; apparently it was well hidden in the water tank on the 2nd Floor.

Levitation: Viole can levitate himself hundreds of meters off the ground using Shinsoo, he showed this during his brief skirmish with Urek Mazino.

Lighthouse Control: Even though it is not his primary position, Viole has shown he can communicate with and use lighthouses. In one instance, he manipulated three lighthouses to somewhat enhance the effects of Fast Skip to stop Novick and protect himself from Ran's attack. He has also used it to create an enhanced Shinsoo barrier to block attacks and to alter his voice when Koon arrives at the Hand of Arlen. It is shown that he can manipulate at least three lighthouses.

Yu Han Sung Style Shinsoo Control Technique: Straight-Line Long Pierce: Using a similar technique to Laure's "shinsoo control", Viole aligns 4 baangs and shoots them forming a spear to pierce through Phobos, stating that a normal attack wouldn't have worked.

Ability Replication: Viole can copy Ranker-level abilities after they are used against him or if he's seen them use it only once. Such a feat proves how prodigal Viole is and how dangerous (if he already isn't) he can be in the future. Though Viole can copy Ranker techniques easily, it is noted that he lacks some of the power behind the attacks (relative to a Ranker). The following is a list of techniques copied from his battles and the person who copied it:



From Quant
 * Fast Skip (빠른 스킵, Bbareun Seukip): A reverse-flow control technique. At medium to close range, Viole can temporarily immobilize an object using Shinsoo. Quant shows him this ability which took him decades to learn; Baam however mastered this almost instantly and can apparently use it at a greater range than most. In Part II, the flow was so powerful that it didn't only freeze Yihwa, but also the Shinsoo around her. If something like this is possible for other Regulars (or even Irregulars) remains unknown. It has been shown that he can use a similar technique to even stop inanimate objects. During the Untrustworthy Room game he stopped the connector which was fired at very high speed in mid air; this feat even shocked Love (a Ranker). Even more amazing is the fact that he can also stop Rankers with this technique (Quant and Love), albeit only for a short time. This is Viole's most used technique to date.

From Love
 * Blue Oar (청노,Cheongno): Shinsoo is used to form a blue disk, which allows the rider to move at a very great speed. The main usage is for a single transportation; the user moves quickly from point A to point B in a straight path because the technique cannot move in any other direction. Also, the technique sometimes causes destruction along its pathway. This is one of the more commonly used Wonsulsa techniques that Viole employs in his battles.


 * Slider: Shinsoo is used to boost one's movement for faster mobility and control (e.g. side-stepping or dodging) during a brief period of time; the main usage is for one to shift oneself into a better offensive position while the user is in a defensive stance: counterattack. This is not optimal for racing against someone, since the technique is not pure acceleration and only lasts for a short time.


 * Upshoot: Shinsoo is used to boost the user's uppercut punch in both power and speed. Usually, this punch is used after Blue Oar to maximize both power and speed.


 * Straight Ball: Shinsoo is used to boost the user's speed, so he can touch the enemy. This attack is followed up by Pitch Changeup.


 * Pitch Changeup: An attack that uses Shinsoo to boost the user's punch while it is in contact with an enemy.

From Urek Mazino
 * Emperor's Scorching Fist of Death (Usurper's Inferno): Shinsoo is gathered entirely into the fist and released in a giant explosion. This is a very high risk technique as the user is left vulnerable. Though Urek is the one who (indirectly) taught Viole the technique, this technique is also First Emperor's signature technique. Viole never uses this technique because its name is embarrassing.

​From Ha Jinsung


 * Floral Butterfly: Piercing Technique (화접공파술, or "Hwajeopgongpahsool"): An immensely strong technique that allows one to transfer a shock of Shinsoo through vibrations from oneself to a targeted object. It is unknown to what extent he is capable of using this technique, though it is shown that just after learning the technique he was able to at least dent a stone golem with it. The effects of a simple touch are catastrophic. It seems that this particular style of fighting is a trait of the FUG Organization. Viole used this technique once in a Shinsoo strengthening test to gain a score of 134,000. Viole again used this technique against Urek Mazino, in which he had his fist clenched, unlike the strengthening test where he held a more relaxed pose so it is possible that Viole was not using the technique to its fullest extent before Urek. This is likely Viole's most devastating and dangerous move - using it, he caused extreme harm to Beta with a single strike.

From Novick
 * Hayeol Style: Crimson Fist: Viole can manipulate fire-like tentacles to form a dome around him as a shield, sealing him away from reach. It can also blast people away from close range.

SIU has stated that whilst Viole's abilities are great they are not necessarily unmatched. For example, during his battle against Love he could copy his techniques, but could not perform them to the same skill or intensity as he is still fairly inexperienced. He also could have been implying the fact Viole is still able to grow more powerful even while having already great abilities.

Weapons

 * Black March: One of the 13th Month Series, it is an A-Rank Needle that only Ignited when used by Baam. Yuri Zahard lent it to Baam to be used at Headon's Test, but he later carried it to the Second Floor tests before he lost it to Anak Zahard; it was later retrieved by Yuri Zahard.


 * Thorn Replica: The container for the real Thorn which was used to summon and bind it to Viole. It is not impotent by itself, as seen when a large "scar" is cut into the wall when Reflejo first gives Viole the replica and also when it was used to grant Viole the strength to overcome Aleksai Amigochaz and Vespa.


 * The Real Thorn: After Enryu killed the Guardian on the 43rd Floor the Thorn was left behind. F.U.G thought they could kill Zahard using this weapon, but they found it to be dead. This is what led them to work with the dark scientists of the Workshop to create living Ignition Weapons. Using the fake Thorn as a container to summon the real Thorn, Viole now holds the weapon F.U.G wants to kill Zahard with, floating over the same shoulder Horyang has his wing. When is was still wrapped inside the container, Hwa Ryun expressed that she had some doubts if Viole could actually activate it "properly". When Viole uses Shinsoo the Thorn reacts to it giving it a blue or purple glow similar to almost enhancing it; as Ron Mei said that he didn't know how to use it properly yet, it is certain that it wasn't the Thorn's real power. Judging by the reactions of the characters at the time, the Thorn was still in a dormant state and its wrapped, concealed appearance did not reflect its perfected form. During the battle against Reflejo, the Real Thorn fully unwrapped itself, revealing its original appearance, along with orange energy rings around it, and was considered by Reflejo to have 'chosen' Baam as its master. When awakened, the Real Thorn allowed Baam's Flow Control to be effective against the previously immune Reflejo and Koon deduced that it was forcibly controlling the Shinsoo around the area, a power that he considered "near god-like". Finally, Baam was able to use the Real Thorn to deal a devastating red beam-like punch that ripped right through Reflejo's mid-section. However SIU said that the Thorn wasn't fully activated yet and that it may work differently depending on who's using it, meaning that we haven't even seen it's full power yet. Also, SIU has mentioned that it is indeed a growing weapon meaning it can grow to be stronger than it already is and that it would burst out when needed.