Editing Interlude – The 7th Hive

{{Infobox episode
|title=Interlude – The 7th Hive
|published=March 14, 2026
|wordcount=<!--7,040-->
|link=[https://wanderinginn.com/2026/03/14/interlude-the-7th-hive/ The 7th Hive]
|previousChapter= [[Interlude – Spears and Stuff]]
|nextChapter= ???
}}
'''Interlude – The 7th Hive''' is the 122nd chapter of [[Volume 10]].

==tl;dr==
* [[Crusader 53]] and his Squad 5 have become a prominent group within the [[7th Hive]].
* A culture is burgeoning within the 7th Hive as newbies are introduced to the many stories their squadmates share with them.
* Squad 5 loses one of their members and their replacement, a [[Flying Antinium]], which brings complications, Crusader 53 lodges a complaint with [[Xrn]].
* Xrn explains that the [[Flying Queen|Flying Queen's]] treachery has been dealt with for now and that their new member isn't as loyal to their Queen as one would assume.
* Xrn shares of the event where the Flying Antinium joined a great stream of flying creatures for a [[Sheta (Palace of Fates)|'Harpy']], that they developed unique traits and are now hiding within the other Hives.
* Xrn elucidates the purpose of the 7th Hive, to level at any cost, and that they'll be heading towards the [[New Lands of Izril]] for that cause. As for retirement, she'll lead them to one last place where they may rest.
* The 7th Hive marches southwards to the panic of all the [[Drake]] settlements that catch sight of the army of [[Antinium]].

==Synopsis==
The situation for the [[7th Hive]], while not great with a constant amount of deaths, was doing okay in comparison to other times, even so this didn't sit well with [[Crusader 53]] who is now a prominent figure amongst the [[Antinium]]. During one breakfast, [[Crusader 57]] was speaking with the rest of Squad 5 about how they're getting the short end of the stick for being very good at their job, Crusader 53 understands the truth in his fellow's words but one did not argue with [[Xrn]]. Even after her death and the loss in her levels she was still a force to be reckoned with true to what being a True Antinium means, that's why they still followed her, plus the payment of shiny coins.

After a meeting of leadership of the 7th Hive everyone was sent out to deal with the [[Monsters]] of the [[High Passes]], Squad 5 took care of a Giant Centipede that was attacking another squad. Crusader 53 was reporting in to [Captain] [[Gormless]] when [[Maev]] of the [[Silent Antinium]] arrived there as well to send in her report, Crusader 53 soon left the tent not wanting to deal with the Captain's chattering on about relationship stuff. Being in the 7th Hive for a time, Crusader 53 learned a great deal about the state of the Antinium as a whole, such as it sucked back in the Hives, and that things were starting to feel old.

The thing that made Squad 5 as one of the more important groups is their adaptability, they were able to whittled down a panic that was going through the Antinium when [[Magnolia Reinhart|Magnolia's]] contract was about to come to an end and they didn't know what to do. As they where marching along to their next destination, Crusader 53 could see that every Antinium had their quirks as a way to distinguish themselves from everyone else, as a way to be remembered. A culture was brewing in the 7th Hive, like how the newbies were taught basic things by their squadmates and if they survived long enough were told stories about Heaven, an [[The Wandering Inn|inn]], an [[Erin Solstice|[Innkeeper]]], and plenty more of the good and bad.
----Squad 5 lost it's first member in the entire campaign of the High Passes, Crusader 53 knew the lies the others were telling him were just kinds words for his mistake. Crusader 57 barges into his contemplation to share that their new member is of the [[Flying Antinium]], understanding the situation he lodges a complaint with the Small Queen. Cognizant of his concern, Xrn explains that while the [[Flying Queen]] did commit treachery at the [[Winter Solstice Conflict|Winter Solstice]] that she had been mostly reprimanded and forgiven for her acts because the Antinium cannot waste lives on an internal conflict. She goes on to elucidate that back on [[Rhir]] the [[Unitasis Network]] was used to resolve conflict but since that not possible here that their new member must be a part of his squad to show solidarity to the others and that this Flying Antinium isn't loyal to his Queen.

Xrn brings up when the ground shook throughout the High Passes, that they were not prepared for the magnitude of what was happening at the time. An event occurred where the Flying Antinium join a great stream of flying creature for some [[Sheta (Palace of Fates)|Harpy]], against the Flying Queen's will, the survivors developed unique traits who are now hiding in other Hives. Crusader 53 ask two questions on his mind; the purpose of the 7th Hive and any possibility for leave time. Xrn tells him that the point of this new Hive is to level at any cost and with the High Passes being thinned out that they are heading for the [[New Lands of Izril]]. As for time off, she'll arrange it in a more favorable situation than the [[Drake]] lands and when they are ready as a capable force she will lead them to one last place where they may rest.

As the 7th Hive leave the High Passes, that marked the beginnings of something different for the Antinium. They watch Xrn and the rebel Flying Antinium scouting above in the skies as they catch sight of a green plateau below, they marched into the south of [[Izril]] to the clear panic of every single Drake city who saw this approaching army of Antinium.

==Characters==
( * = First Appearance)
*[[Anand]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Archer B12]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Armored Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Artur]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Belgrade]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Bird]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Calruz]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Chysl]]*
*[[Crusader 51]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Crusader 53]]
*[[Crusader 57]]
*[[Crusader 59-11]]* ''(Mentioned; {{Color|grey|Deceased}})''
*[[Devrkr]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Embraim]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Erin Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[First Grand Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Flying Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Garry]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Gormless]]*
*[[Grand Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Kasigna]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Klbkch]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Maev]]
*[[Magnolia Reinhart]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Mrsha du Marquin]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Olesm Swifttail]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pawn]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Peacock]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Pivr]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Sheta (Palace of Fates)]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Silent Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Snatcher]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Tersk]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Toni]]* ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Twisted Queen]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Wingsy]]*
*[[Wrymvr]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xevccha]] ''(Mentioned)''
*[[Xrniavxxel]]
*[[Zimrah]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Groups/Organizations==
* [[7th Hive]]
** Company 01
** Company 03
*** Squad 05
*** Squad 06
** Company 05
** Company 14 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 15 ''(Mentioned)''
*** Squad 09 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 24 ''(Mentioned)''
*** Squad 02 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 43 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 58 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 66 ''(Mentioned)''
*** Squad 04 ''(Mentioned)''
** Company 77 ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Liscor’s Second Army]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Beriad of the Free Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Free Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Chess Club]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Silent Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Flying Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Armored Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Painted Antinium]] ''(Mentioned)''
* [[Order of Solstice]] ''(Mentioned)''

==Locations==
* [[Izril]]
** [[High Passes]]

==Creatures==
* Crystal-Thing ''(Mentioned)''
* Crystal Roaches ''(Mentioned)''
* Passmaws ''(Mentioned)''
* Lava Slimes ''(Mentioned)''
* Giant Centipede
* Earth Elementals ''(Mentioned)''
* Gargoyles ''(Mentioned)''
* Gargoyle Bossel ''(Mentioned)''
* Eater Goats ''(Mentioned)''
* Crelers ''(Mentioned)''
* Razorbeaks ''(Mentioned)''

==Items==
* Dragonbone Mace

==Statistics==
===Statistics Revealed===
====[[Crusader 53]]====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Sergeant of the Unrelenting Hammer] Lv. 32

====[[Gormless]]====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Captain]

====[[Crusader 57]]====
* '''Skills:'''
** [Rupture Point]

====[[Chysl]]====
* '''Class/Levels:'''
** [Acolyte of Healing]
* '''Skills:'''
** [Enhanced Bandage]
* '''Miracles:'''
** [Prayers of Healing]

[[Category:Chapters]]
[[Category:Volume 10]]
[[Category:Interludes]]