Soul/Sage/Lore is going to be really worried at this point.  He should be able to sense the nanites in any Next Worlders' body.  For them to suddenly drop off the radar is...disturbing.  He didn't really credit Lafferty's story...the Next Level's origins are odd enough, but alternate realities?  Still, he's concerned, and is checking with Vigilant, his super-sensed son, with Thunderous' wife, DNAvatar, and Lafferty's lover, Attractive.

So who's the glowing person Soul is talking to in the last panel in what looks like a religious setting? 

Well...let's just say...you haven't met ALL the Next Level yet. This guy will be very important to Lafferty...someday.