The feeling of accomplishment she should have felt turned to worry when she saw the condition of the rest.
She was having difficulties but they had more than what she did. Because at this moment, other than the dark phoenix and another dark lion there was an additional beast. One whom Saphira could feel strength exceeding that of the dark phoenix.
Now she realized why Vermilion Bird did not return to support her a while ago. It was because along with Qirin, he was tied up in battling this beast. While Black Tortoise and White Tiger were battling the dark Phoenix and the dark Lion.
"Lily," she called out when she saw the rest.
They were wounded all over, both grave and light.
Lily who was spread out combined and instead of just being a little lady when combined, she actually turned into a golden phoenix.
This shock Saphira, she didn't know that this was her other form.
'Don't be too shock I just didn't come out to fight and simply stayed as a support. You have something to do right? I will fight with that beast while you take care of the other things,' Lily spoke attacking the beast.
In reality, Saphira didn't expect for the eighth floor to be as high as three floors. And the height actually hid that beast together with the miasma.
Who would have thought that such a thing was hiding here as well.
'Though I won't promise that I would be able to defeat that black dragon on my own,' Lily added rushing towards the black dragon that was prepared to attack Hunter and the rest who were getting up with all the strength they could muster.
Saphira rushed to their side and helped heal their wounds as fast as she can.
Vermillion Bird, Qirin, White Tiger and Black Tortoise were doing their best to hold back Ardel, Raynisha and the other two demonic beasts.
The moment their defense fell apart, Saphira was also done with her healing.
She and the rest came forward to continue with the battle.
But she felt that she was missing something at this moment, though their current condition did not allow her to think more about it.
Ardel was even more agitated now and his attacks became heavier.
"Vermilion Bird go and help Lily," Saphira called out.
'Try to call for the others as well,' she added in her mind.
'I have been trying. It's a bit distorted but I think they already got the message. They may already be on their way,' Vermilion Bird replied.
Saphira stopped herself from smiling, 'I knew we have the same mind.'
'Hmmpph.'
'Please help me out now,' Lily suddenly complained.
Saphira almost laughed. Despite their current condition, the three of them could actually still have such a light conversation.
Swords parried one another.
Demonic beasts against humans.
Magical abilities against magical abilities.
All this occurred in the underground causing tremors even to those above ground.
Most were already evacuated, only those under the seven families remained.
They had finished cleaning up the remaining demonic beasts and checking the number of casualties. Some were also sent to the borders of the land where the empire is for they received report that more demonic beasts came from outside.
The barrier was holding on but they were too many that killing them took a lot from the other kingdoms and empires. There were millions of demonic beasts, shocking all of them.
They did not expect for these demonic beasts to still be around despite all those that Saphira and the rest killed.
With the attacks coming from the outside, Reginald had no choice but to send more troops to support the other kingdoms and empires.
They are strong but the demonic beasts that are attacking seemed to have become completely not thinking about anything. They are attacking even with the wounds they receive from the humans.
Other than the main family of the seven families, most were sent to assist the borders of the land.
Reginald couldn't send knights out of the land because the sheer amount of demonic beasts attacking from the inside.
Even though they can help, they were more worried about the other eight for them to leave and give support. At the same time, they can give support from up here is things were to go awry and the battle would be brought above ground.
It is better to keep the fight within the empire than for the since more people are outside the empire but are in the land.
There is the barrier that Saphira and the rest erected but they'd rather be careful than to rely too much in it.
Meanwhile, just as the battle escalated to the point where the whole imperial prison was about to collapse, Willow and the rest have finally arrived in the eighth floor.
They were shock to see the dragon but had no time to look at it for the battle was too chaotic. They needed to give as much support as they can.
"ROAAAARRRR!!"
The dragon roared when it was not only Vermilion Bird and Lily who started attacking it.
If it was still capable of fighting the two with it focusing on defending from Lily's attack. After the others joined, it could no longer keep up, it started receiving damage.
The roar was strong enough that the earth shook.
Ardel raised his hand when he realized that they are keeping up.
"Rampage."
Saphira frowned when she heard this.
But before she started wondering what it meant, she and the other seven started feeling strong pain in their chest.
Saphira's eyes went wide, this was what she felt that she was missing.
She had healed them but she had not checked the darkness inside them.
Ardel had been planning this all along.
"Let's see how can you deal with this. The darkness that penetrated your bodies is far greater than what you faced in the past."
They slowly crouched down the ground as the darkness spread in their bodies until all their visions turned dark.