Max went to fetch the device from the Cutter as soon as their conversation was over, and Huntress Khan began to organize a secure lab facility within the camp for them to work at.

It couldn't be too close to the Anomaly, as that would likely exist in both layers, but they were limited on the space that they had available to them now that the majority of the planet was controlled by the Myceloids.

"Do you think that it will be the same as it was in the region by the Koleska?" Khan asked as they started to set up the equipment for their experiment.

"Logically, it should be very similar. The scans that you have done on the region suggest that the same instability exists here and doesn't in our home galaxies, so it should be very similar inside that layer.

We can't rule out the possibility that these Myceloids actually came from that region, though. If they did, then it means there are more breaches that we can't detect from here, and the other planets that are linked by portals are likely just as infested as this one is.

If we wanted to get brutal about things, I could bring my Mecha here and just launch a full-out assault against the ships in orbit. It did a wonderful job against the Arisen Army, so it should be able to deal with the Myceloids, whose technology is far inferior in development."

Khan considered it for a moment, then waved off his offer. "We will keep that strategy in reserve. If we can deal with the situation on the surface without it, then we will. If not, we will send out patrols with anti-orbital weapons so that the source of the attacks isn't traced back to the camp if we should fail."

In this case, Max thought that Nico's "There is no kill like overkill" level of firepower was more appropriate than their attempts to honourably hunt the Myceloids, but they were in charge of this region, and he was only here helping out as an unofficial favour to the Hunters.

"Alright, we have the portal generator set up, so we can get on our freshly modified Mobile Suits and send the first test probe through to the other side.

The suits are just a precaution, but if there is something on the other side when we open the portal to send the probe, it might open a much larger one and attempt to pull us through. That means we should be armed." Nico explained.

The chances of opening a Portal inside or right next to another ship in the vastness of space were infinitesimally low, but there was still a chance.

The first thing that Nico did was activate the new sensor suite, which could track the probe through the layers and then set up a powerful energy barrier around the building.

Nothing would get in, and nothing could get out.

Then the Portal was opened, a small one no more than the size of a fist, and the probe was unceremoniously thrown through.

"Hey, it's on a planet. Wait, I think that's this planet or something near it. The data I am getting back shows a similar topography.

No signs of life other than plant life in the region. No sign of what we have dubbed the Demons either. But there is something. An immense amount of energy is concentrated in the area over the planet, and I can't get a read on what it is.

It might be an energy storm, like the one that carried the corpses off the planet, but it isn't moving." Nico reported.I think you should take a look at

Then Max felt it, that same sense of being watched, only a hundred times more intense and strangely happy feeling.

All three of them shared a look, having felt the same thing, and then Nico let the Portal close with the probe on the other side.

They would still get the data from it unless it was tampered with, but they wouldn't have the Portal attracting the attention of whatever was waiting in the other Layer.

[Huntress Khan, there is something strange going on all over the planet. Everywhere that we can see, the Myceloids have stopped what they were doing to bow down toward the camp. No matter where they were facing, they all turned to grovel a few seconds ago, and now they are starting to improve their weapons.

I suspect that it is some sort of combat ritual, and they are preparing for another major assault.] The camp's reconnaissance officer reported.

"Shit. I think that a greater being is affiliated with this species. If they're worshipping whatever has been checking up on us, there might not be a good ending to this battle." Max sighed.

"You have some sort of experience with this situation?" Khan asked.historical

"We have legends of Greater Beings, capable of seemingly impossible feats, and many times in the past few months, we have sensed something watching us but couldn't find it.

This time, it was a much stronger sensation, and I'm pretty sure it was coming from somewhere inside that energy cloud." Max explained.

"So something is orchestrating the chaos in this strange region of space?" Khan asked.

"Possibly more than one something. If this being is aligned with the Myceloids, which don't operate in the region where we were before, there is a good chance that the other threats in the region are all being guided by similar beings that we haven't interacted with yet."

Khan looked nearly panicked, but Nico had a huge smile. The look on her face seemed to settle the Huntress, who slowly began to smile back.

"You know, I've never gotten a chance to hunt a greater being before." She whispered.

The sensation of amusement, along with watchfulness, flooded the room again, even though the portal was closed, and Max knew that the being had heard her intention to hunt it and was eager to see her try.

But first, they would have to prove themselves worthy against these minions.