Intermission (7-8)

Hopefully, by the time you finish Dungeon 7, your clock's time is around :25. There are two important items we want to get now, and we need to get them both between the times of :25 and :35 (if you're past that and you haven't got the items, it may be time to employ the assistance of our good friend, the fast forward key). Anyway, for the first one head to the top of the waterfall at screen E-2.
Inside is the badass Magic Sword. It's no longer at a 45 degree angle, but it's big and yellow, and that's cool too, right? You now weild the game's most powerful weapon.
Now trek all the way back to the forest in southwest Hyrule. Push this Armos out of the way and go down the staircase it leaves behind.
Man, the Red Ring never used to be this easy to get! Your defense will instantly double again when you turn red.
Head back to Death Mountain, and where you turned right to go to Dungeon 7, turn left to go to Dungeon 8. Bomb the left Spectacle Rock to reveal the entrance to Dungeon 8.