Obviously Mana
In a starving crucible of hungry villagers, under an ancient castle filled with parasites and an insipid plant creature, a battle raged in the very depths of a research labyrinth.
Armor thundered and steel smashed as all alike funneled into a passage filled with the vile Ova. Poisonous and near-unkillable, the decaying knights crushed them underneath, but still the Ova fought back, attacking with whatever parts of them could still move.
The rusted armor blocked most of their attacks, but not all. It was a tiresome battle, but as long as at least one knight died, the armor would rust and fall apart. They would claim the body parts and would have the last victory.
In the grand chamber, with a small army of Ova surrounding him, Jay was safe. Behind him, a silver portal crackled with unfathomable energy, distorting the surrounding air.
Nearby, a giant flesh-root head pumped, each pulse like a ticking clock counting down to Jay’s death. Yet to this moment, it had not even moved.