The Second Layer of the Empyrean Hatcher was not like the First at all.
Upon reaching it from the beam of erect light which seemed to be tearing through from the First Layer and onwards towards the Third, Replicus felt a bit of resistance all around him. Suddenly, it was as though he was swimming in the ocean, but perhaps water wasn't the exact consistency of whatever was around him.
It was slightly thicker and it could not be seen. Replicus could only discern the distortions it caused in this massive space, which was brightly lit. The walls and ceiling of the Hatcher could barely be seen, like in the First Layer, but they still depicted dense murals with messages hard to interpret.
Replicus was floating.
There was no ground to stand on, but he felt that if he wished to move upward or downward, he could do so very easily.
His six Strawlers had followed after him, and in two neat lines, they followed behind, awaiting a command.