The series that stated it all! Chronologically it is not the first, I mean in their lore, but it is for Atiny given it is what Ateez debuted with. I find it wild that they did not debut with the beginning of the story. Honestly, my favourite department in KQ is the lore department.

Last time I talked about the Zero: Fever series and this time I am talking about the Treasure series.

Let’s jump right in.

Episode 1: All to Zero

The first item on the album is Intro: Long Journey. Interesting that they start with narration. They really set the scene that they are telling a story.  This was before they added the diary versions of the albums too, so it helped to set the scene of the story.

Their debut song was Pirate King and it has some lovely lyrics for a song that sounds so tough. They want to be friends so that they can go on an adventure together, it’s giving recruitment Luffy style.

Treasure is talking about what they can discover together and what they can achieve, what they are shooting for together. They are after a dazzling treasure and they will get it no matter what. The treasure is set in the future and it’s like they are manifesting as their treasure is their future success. The treasure is calling them so they set their course to it.

This song fits the lore but also fits Ateez in real life. They manifested for their future. It’s cool to look back and to see the things they spoke about coming true.

If I had been an Atiny from the beginning this would have been my favourite title track.

Twilight, I was looking at my notes and this song was not there! A travesty! It’s funny though because this song was one of the songs I knew without knowing much about Ateez. I just stumbled upon it and thought it was nice. They want to be together, with the subject of the song, and to be free and sore the sky. Flying comes up in this song and as we saw in Zero: Fever series that’s a recurring theme.

Stay is about staying together. They want you to stay with them. They will hold your hand to reassure you. It sounds like the subject, of the song, is nervous and it also sounds like they’re taking them aboard the ship. The recruitment continues.

My Way is more talking about their journey to debut I feel. It’s talking about the road they’ve taken. Pirate King has a bit of that too, like we’ve become pirates through our hard work.

They are looking at the past whilst also looking to the future. As in, they are looking at what they’ve done and where they’ve come from, acknowledging it, then using that to move forward into the future. As they start the journey, they start on their path, their way. They encourage themselves not to be afraid.

This song is my favourite on the album after Treasure.

I think this first album combines lore stuff but also things personal to the real Ateez more than the other albums do.

Episode 2 – Zero to One

Hala Hala, I don’t know how to explain this one but it is about Halateez and is kind of like a warning. They’re coming for them? They are seeking the light? This light in darkness being one of the themes of the album.

They are meeting another side of themselves. They have a burning within, an inner passion, an inner fire. This is deep within their soul and it cannot be quenched. Given what we know about Z land that is important as in Z land they try to kill creative spirit and individuality.

The music video also has Wooyoung infiltrating them, the Z world… and killing them? I was a bit lost at that.

I just rewatched the music video, added my update and stupid word crashed. *rage* because now I’ve lost my trail of thought.

*starts typing by slamming keys*

The Halateez are referred to by Hongjoong as a suicide squad so they’re the anti-heroes? Also, Wooyoung doesn’t kill them they do it to themselves? But he is the spy. Yeosang referred to them as tsundere one time and the one diary version I have managed to read refers to the masked fencers as more of a threat/bad guy. However they stay fighting each other, at least weren’t they fighting in that one stage in Kingdom?

Perhaps, when I receive the remaining diary versions and I can finally read them in order Halateez will make more sense to me.

*end of rage filled update*

Say My Name they’re like we will rescue you and come for you but you just need to say their name. It’s that simple and they’ll reach their hand out to you and take you to the sky.

Say My Name is a classic Ateez song. They had so many classics from the time they began. I am glad that the kpop world and music world in general is catching up and seeing that.

Also, story wise Yeosang becomes stuck in the box in Say My Name and they meet with Halateez.

Light and Promise are lovely songs. Light talks about how they are a light and they will shine together. They met the light and they’re like, “Ooh yay!”. They’re like “Wow, you shine bright, let’s stay together and shine together”.

Promise is the promise made to never let go of Ateez’s hand, to stay in it together no matter what. It’s kinda like they’re saying trust me bro.

Desire, the desire they have for the subject of this album is strong and it is all encompassing. It cannot be quenched. Light also works its way in here but the light is their desire and it is red! This song harkens to Déjà vu. Desire came out first but story wise Déjà vu is first.

They are mesmerised the moment they saw them, the person has a dazzling light that is blinding. They’re like, guess I’ll be blinded then. The desire they have for the subject is selfish. They love their desire so much that they become blind. The desire is kind of like the treasure in Treasure. There are some innuendos but they may just be talking about treasure and I’m reading too much into it. They want it so much, the dream becomes a reality.

I love this song so much. It is one of my favourite Ateez songs. It can do no wrong. Then the live stage, man… they’re trying to kill me. I also love how you can see how Yeosang grew in confidence through the performances of Desire. At first he shied away from San and progressed to confronting him head on. Stunning!

Episode 3: One to All

I love this album. It is one of my favourites. If I had been an Atiny then I would have gone feral for this album! And one of my favourites that stays on repeat is Utopia.

They are chasing their dream, it is their treasure in the sky, and they will reach it. They are constantly running to meet it. It doesn’t matter if others laugh at them as they believe in themselves.

Then my favourite title track from this album is Illusion! I actually love this song too much. I would have voted for it if I had been an Atiny back then. You know how they used to have Atiny vote on which title track would get promoted.

They’re back in a dream or a dream like place with a blue sun and a purple star. Everything is fantastical and there is a voice telling them to party all day and so they do. They’re having fun dancing on the sea. If it is a dream they do not want to wake up.

This song links with Inception but is the happy version, oh and Eternal Sunshine.

From the MV I think they are actually in a dream. Towards the end they end up in a tin foil cave and mysteriously look around but then they leave again.

Also, cute that the Aniteez trailer mimics Illusion. They even end up travelling to Z land. So that’s how Ateez first travelled there… by accident?

In Wave they are sailing on their adventure and encounter waves, however they’re like don’t worry we can overcome them, endure them, and sail above them. The hand holding comes back in this song.

This is also the song that they won their first music show win with! I remember hearing about this song but this was when I was resisting being an Atiny. Why? Because I stanned too many groups. Monsta X and Ateez were victims of my cap on new groups.

The next song is Aurora. Their light is so pervasive it even shines brightly in the night, to the point that if it was their only light source it would be enough. It is their aurora and it protects them. It protects them to the point that they feel safe in the darkness. Thus, Ateez do not leave the light’s side. The same subject as before being light.

This is the song that Hongjoong wrote, right? They also did an MV for this one and it is beautiful.

This album was Yunho’s era, it was his hot boy summer honestly. There are so many iconic Yunho moments from this time and his hair was a gorgeous popping blue colour!

I saw parts of the dance included in sexy Ateez edits on Tik Tok and I wondered, what song is this. Then I was watching Aurora and saw the same move and I was like really?! Out of all the songs I did not expect it to be from Aurora. They were preparing us for Cyberpunk and Wake up.

Dancing like butterfly wings – flying high to the clouds with their wings to reach their goal.

As I mentioned in the Zero: Fever series post, this song links up nicely with Turbulence. It also links well with Twilight given the flying theme.

Epilogue: Action to Answer

Another classic! Answer. The song is a summary of what we’ve had so far. Ateez are saying to call them if needed and that they will go on the journey with you together. Also, to do so with burning and overflowing passion.

In the MV, there has been a conflict, we see traces of the other MVs and even Yeosang’s lines harken to Pirate King. There has been a fight in the Say My Name set and there is dust everywhere, Cromer? Random man with the fencing mask shows up for the first time.

Three of them gather in the dust, Yeosang, Wooyoung and San?

The butterfly from Déjà vu appear in this MV (because of Bleach I only ever see butterflies as bad omens). They appeared around Yeosang first and now they’re with Wooyoung.

The next song is one of my all-time favourite Ateez songs, Horizon! They have a dream that is getting closer. Another song where they are sailing on the sea. They are sailing to reach the horizon and to head past it.

It is just so satisfying to listen to. If I ever need to blow off steam I just put this on. Also, the dance slaps. Yeosang killed it, Yunho killed it and Seonghwa killed it. They just really stood out to me.

Precious – they’ve been sucked into another world and they don’t know if it is real or a dream. They got their hands on the treasure, the precious, but need to find it again.

Star1117 – this is a fan song with the date Atiny was named in the title. It’s sweet calling the fans their star. They say that Atiny is the one they were looking for.

Fin: All to Action

You thought they were done with Treasure?! Nope, there’s fin! This is the true ending! This one is their first full album and it is one of my favourites.

They have a lil intro called End of the Beginning and then they jump right into a banger!

And that banger is Wonderland! Who can listen to this song and not get hype?! If such a person exists I do not trust them. It has me stepping like I’m in Stomp the Yard!

“All eyes on me now! If you still doubt mine, it’s too pointless! We’re still young and wild, we gonna find new world to be mine!”

Whooo!

Ahem…

They are close to the goal so they’re saying we can’t give up now! We have to keep going, now more than ever. Run!

It’s the best call to action song ever. Mingi popped off! I just… Mingi! *hits dolphin notes*.

I didn’t think it could get better but then there was the Kingdom version. Then it got even better when Seonghwa got a sword! I live for this song.

In terms of the MV, Wooyoung is tied up in chains, Yeosang appears to be alone and Seonghwa is chasing after him. As in, Yeosang is in a tunnel and then later Seonghwa is in the same tunnel looking for something, Yeosang? Then San is in a field of flowers with poles around him. He was attacked?

They’re climbing stairs to somewhere and they reunite and go through a big gate. To Z land? They’re going to get Yeosang? Because I don’t believe they’ve been reunited. It’s like they are tracing his foot steps rather.

Dazzling light, my bitch. I’m sorry, I love this song!  This is the song I would get emotional over and you look over at me at a concert like why does she ride so hard for this song. Meanwhile me:

*waving light stick safely* “Tell me who you, who am I?”

They found the light and they’re looking at it and in it they see themselves. However, it is not the end. If anything, they are more confused than ever. Who am I? they ask but also who are you?

Mist, another banger. This is a no skips album.

“My compass is your whisper” … bro! How could you? That’s so beautiful… *small sob escapes lips*

They are in darkness and are anxious once more. Usually, they are the ones who offer their hand to give comfort but this time they are asking for comfort and for the subject not to let go of their hand as they wander through the fog. They want reassurance they are going the right way.

Wooyoung in this song, he pops off. I love it, it’s one of my favourite songs that showcase his voice.

Precious (Overture) makes an appearance here. It’s the same Precious as before but more.

Win – their pirate ship only goes one way, they are going to win!

At the concert this song had me and my friend dancing like mad. We were at the back of the standing section so we had plenty of room to dance. Ooh, it was so fun!

Add this to the Ateez twerk inducing collection.

If without you is a nice sunny song. What a cat feels then they lay out in the sun, basking in its warmth.

Yeosang got bars (lines)!

They don’t want to part from the subject of the song.

Thank U – thank you for being by my side friend. Because you are by my side I am able to weather the storm.

The song name in Korean is friend too so it fits. Both titles fit really.

Sunrise – they would like to hear words of encouragement even if it is a lie to help them to keep going. They’d like to hear, “just keep it up”. In turn, through the song they’re telling us that too.

This is another one of my favourites.

With U – Yeosang ends the song!

They’re like remember all I promised and how far we’ve come together, I cherish that and that is what has gotten me thus far. Let us continue walking together.

Then the album ends with a narration like how the series began, a nice bookend. They really got good narrators for those sections. It is called Beginning of The End.

A lot has happened in the Treasure series. We have lost Yeosang, met Halateez and the masked fencer. They have gone to Z Land to retrieve Yeosang as he is stuck there and Cromer is broken. They’ve had good times but darkness is coming, thus they are holding on to the light.