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Planet Nethea

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"Finally. I hope it doesn't take this long to get to the other worlds"

Sungmin sighed, gazing at the planet on the monitors.

Xinya guided me to ATEEZ's HQ, based on the directions on the tracker. After a few minutes, we finally made it, but I was a bit confused.

We weren't met with a house, like with Stray Kids and ENHYPEN. This time, we were met with a pirate ship.

And it wasn't like any other pirate ship. This one was rested in the clouds, instead of the planet's sea.

"Are you sure that this is the place sis???"

"Absolutely positive. It specifically says that their HQ is a floating ship in the clouds"

She informed me.

Just as I was about to lower the ship down to theirs, we all heard a thud from outside.

I checked the monitors, and some guy was standing on the nose of the ship.

How did he even get up here???

"I have a feeling that I know who that is. Xinrei and Xinya, come with me"

Taeyong ordered, leading us to a different exit.

We made it to the top of the ship, and the guy we saw immediately noticed our presence. He looked like he was about to attack us.

"Will you be my friend?!"

Taeyong suddenly yelled, confusing me and Xinya.

But to our surprise, when he said that, the guy just suddenly waved at us, seeming to lose all hostility.

Taeyong took our hands, and cheerfully led us down to meet him.

"Taeyong-hyung~! Long time no see~!"

"Long time no San~"

"Sorry about the hostility, but we can never be to sure about surprise visitors~. But hold on. Aren't these two Renjun's kids???"

"Indeed they are~"

"I knew it! So you are Xinrei and Xinya~. But what about Nitro??"

"He's trapped back on Ethora with dad..."

"It's a long story..."

We both sighed.

We're both already getting tired of retailing this story over and over...

"I see... Go ahead and park your ship next to ours, and feel free to come aboard to talk. I'll see you there"

San informed us, before running off and jumping off of our ship.

Xinya and I ran after him to see how he would get back to his ship, and we saw how his arm suddenly stretched for him to reach it!

Once he grabbed onto the pole on the front of the ship, he swung himself into the air and landed aboard the ship, and his arm retracted to normal afterwards!

"So that's one of his powers...?"

I mumbled, and Taeyong nodded.

"San ate something called the Gum-Gum Fruit, and by eating it, his body gained the properties of rubber"

He explained.

"So he's basically made out of rubber?"

"A rubber man?!"

"Right you are~. He can tell you more about it once we dock the ship~"

He took our hands again, and led us back inside.

This guy San seems like a very intriguing individual.

-

"Welcome aboard~"

San cheered, accompanied with another one of his members.

He had blue hair, and a huge pair of goggles rested on his head.

They both led us down to a room inside of the ship, where we were met with the other crew members.

"I'm Kim Hongjoong, the leader of ATEEZ and the captain of the Utopia Wonderland~. My hero name is Min-Hong, my power is called Hollow, and my Stand is called Surface Sweeper~. It's a pleasure to have you aboard our lovely ship~"

He pointed to his goggles when he said his Stand's name.

I knew that there was something off about them. But aside from that, he seems very nice like San.

"My full name is Choi San, and I'm our crew's Gunner~. Let's see... My hero name is Sanjook, and my powers are called Gum Gum and Blade of Tears~"

San eagerly introduced himself.

I can tell right off the bat that he's one of the main mood makers of his crew.

"I'm Park Seonghwa, the oldest member of ATEEZ, and Hongjoong's First Mate and Quartermaster. My hero name is Toothless, and my powers are called Teeth and Multi Mouth"

Seonghwa introduced himself.

He seems way more down to earth than Hongjoong, which is a great attribute for someone who's second in command.

"I'm Jeong Yunho, our crew's Sailing Master. My hero name is Retriever, and my powers are called Dupli-Arms and Dupli-Legs"

Yunho introduced himself next, smiling at us.

He appears to have a hero name similar to the name of a Golden Retriever. I wonder if that's on purpose.

"I'm Kang Yeosang, our crew's Boatswain. My hero name is Truth, my power is called Fact, and my Stand is called Nut King Call"

Yeosang spoke, avoiding eye contact.

He seems to be the most strict of the crew, besides Seonghwa. It makes sense that he'd be granted supervision over all of the crew's activities then.

"I'm Song Mingi, our ship's Navigator... My hero name Minki, and my powers are called Cowardice and Memory Unearthing..."

Mingi quietly introduced himself.

He acts a bit like Minkyu. They're both very quiet and timid. Maybe they'll become great friends the more we spend time with them.

"I'm Jung Wooyoung, our crew's Cook~. My hero name is Foxy, my power is called Tailed Beast, and my Stand is called Crazy Diamond~"

Wooyoung happily introduced himself.

Just by looking at him, I can tell that he has the most confidence and charisma out of everyone on his crew.

"And I'm Choi Jongho, the youngest member in ATEEZ, and our crew's Doctor. My hero name is Apple, my power is called Vegetation, and my Stand is called Hermit Purple. Please don't laugh at my hero name"

Jongho folded his arms when he gave us his warning.

I'm guessing that many people have thought little of him because of his hero name. But I don't see why, considering how the name is related to his power.

"So what seems to be the problem?? San already filled us in on most of the situation"

Hongjoong questioned.

Taeyong gave us a break and explained our situation to them. He even explained everything about the turtle and everyone in it so that we wouldn't have to.

"Goodness... You guys are in quite the predicament..."

Seonghwa mumbled.

"We're with you guys all the way. Consider us recruited~"

Hongjoong immediately cheered.

Well, that was easy.

"You all came this far. It would be rude for us to decline. And besides, anyone who messes with our friends, messes with us"

Yeosang sternly stated.

The tracker suddenly beeped, capturing everyone's attention.

"It updated just like that! Before we move on to the next planet, we have to locate and recruit A.C.E"

Xinya informed everyone.

"I'll steer us there! Our ship can sail through the air, as well as the sea! And we're very familiar with A.C.E, so we'll get to them in no time~!"

Yunho exclaimed, along with Hongjoong's approval.

Good thing I packed up our ship before we boarded this one. We'll be able to save fuel this way, and get to know ATEEZ better in the process.

-

2 Hours Later

-

"So, do you guys like life on the sea? Or..., in the clouds?"

I asked Wooyoung and Yeosang.

"You bet~. We stay out here all the time, and if we get tired it, we find a close enough island to land on~"

"Sometimes, those islands that we land on are in some form of danger. But we always save them, and the civilians always reward us with treasures, food, and hospitality in return"

They explained, gazing out at the sea with me, despite it being extremely foggy.

"So, despite the situation that you're in and all of the stress that you're under, how's it been traveling in your father's ship?"

Yeosang asked.

"It's been fun I guess... I really miss dad and Nitro, and it definitely would've been more fun with them. But I can't really do anything about it but follow dad's orders you know?"

"I understand. You're all very strong, especially considering how young you guys are. You're their leader right? You're doing such a great job for your first time"

He complimented me and smiled.

"I'll say. It if we're me, I would've definitely been in over my head. Listen kid, if you ever need something to help you relax, I'll cook whatever you like for you, my treat"

Wooyoung smiled, patting my shoulder.

"...I do like Budae Jjigae"

"Consider it done~"

He cheered, making me smile a bit.

But my smile faded when I felt my Danger Sense kick in again.

"You feel something?"

Yeosang questioned.

"Yeah... But I can't tell where it's coming from..."

I looked around for a bit, and I found a shadow in the midst of the fog.

But when it got closer, I realized who it was. It was Taehyung, riding on one of Namjoon's Phantom Stingrays.

I could see his Stand, Hierophant Green, standing right next to him, but he wasn't aiming for me.

I looked in the direction where it was aiming, and realized that it was aiming for Minkyu!

He was standing near us, close to the door to the inside, but he still hasn't noticed that he's in danger!

"Minkyu!! Get inside!!"

Right as I started running to him, Hierophant Green released its Emerald Splash attack, and a line of emeralds flew towards him.

Luckily, I made it to him in time and blocked the emeralds. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to use any of my powers to block them, and I couldn't use my Permeation power or the emeralds would've hit him, so they all ended up hitting me.

While I was falling, I noticed another shadow in the fog behind Minkyu. This time, it's was YangYang riding on a Phantom Stingray, aiming for him with his sniper rifle.

Before I could warn him to move out of the way, YangYang pulled the trigger, and the bullet passed right through his head.

He collapsed along with me, and I saw both Wooyoung and Yeosang hovering over us in a matter of seconds.

I couldn't hear anything they were saying, and I couldn't feel anything. The last thing I saw was Wooyoung's Stand, Crazy Diamond, hovering over us too before I blacked out.