Too slow, too slow, too damn slow as a last monster falls squealing and he opens the revolver's chamber, spilling hot casings to the floor with a distant ringing clatter. The whole pack has massed itself and Sanzo's blooded and panting and there's heart to be taken in his defiance, but Devero doesn't want to take heart, he wants everyone to live--

And then, a vision in white enters the field, appearing as if from nowhere as the horde breaks and charges.

Fresh bullets fall from Devero's numb fingers and his own knees are weak enough that he pitches into the frame of the door to support himself. "Koumyou," he whispers, a mere breath lost among the wet sounds of butchery and the screaming of burning monsters. He's not religious, but it could be a prayer of gratitude regardless.

The moment stretches, vertiginous and endless, time dilating as the rush of pure relief lifts him, but it can't stay like that forever. Reality snaps back into focus as meat splatters against the big windows fronting the gas station. Behind him, the civilians scream.

"Stay calm!" he bellows to them, kneeling to scoop the bullets off the floor. "Stay under cover!"

Reloading, he pounds out to join the younger Sanzo, reaching down to haul him to his feet. "Come on," he urges, voice rough. "Up!"

He releases him again immediately, whether he stands or not, and directs his attention outward. Koumyou is here and Koumyou is annihilating the ranks of the monsters but Koumyou is still one man, and Devero will cover him. He raises the gun, and starts trying to pick off the monsters smart enough to withdraw from the immediate massacre.