A Sanzo priest is, at the end of the day, a protector.

They protect their sutra from the world, and the world from their sutra.

And Koumyou Sanzo in specific had guarded two sutras for over twenty years. The only Sanzo in history to do so, and for longer than some Sanzos lasted guarding one.

Protection is as natural to him as breathing, and that's what he does now, even though the sutra on his shoulders is only illusory. The katana in his hand is only as real as the pole beneath the image, but that's fine.

It's enough.

Sword in one hand ready to block branches and vines, the other hand free to fire jets of water at the mongeese? red blobs? hostiles. He plants himself between Devero's back and any approaching danger, and gets to work.

Which isn't to say he won't defend anyone else in range, of course. There's plenty of him to go around.