The other high-grade soul beasts had also noticed that the barrier had disappeared. Without a second of delay, they started flying towards the portal, not a single soul beast deciding to stay behind.
Elias had overestimated the intelligence of the soul beasts. Or rather, he forgot to consider the consequences that being trapped for hundreds of years would have on the minds of these soul beasts.
At that point, they weren't thinking about what kind of existence they would find beyond the portal. They simply wanted to leave, grasping for even a fleeting hope of freedom.
Amidst that group was Lycorice, who was being taken to the portal by the old man. The two of them intentionally traveled a little slower to let other soul beasts reach the portal first, intending to use them as distractions while they rushed out.
