Devero wastes those few seconds furrowing his brow and trying to ask why, only to be absolutely buffeted away from Koumyou by the light that erupts from the sutra. It's not that there's any physical pressure in play, but his brain can't help but interpret light that intense as a precursor to an explosion. Danger. Instinctively he backpedals away, stumbling and landing hard on his ass. He throws up both arms up to shield his face from the blast--

That doesn't come.

Instead of an incendiary roar, all he hears is the Sanzo's scream and the thud of his knees hitting the stage. Devero lowers his arms, his eyes so dazzled by that flash that he can't see clearly. In fact, the most he can see is an incandescence like a sun, and behind that a shadow.

He scrambles on hands and knees towards that shadow anyway. "Koumyou?" he asks, his voice shaking.