Xander DxD 010

Disclaimer: I do not own High School DxD, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Harry Potter, Naruto, and Rifts

Major AU: Do not expect this story to strictly follow canon for High School DxD.

Key: "Talking" 'Thought' [Sacred Gear] (Pailamancy or Telepathy) *Technique*

Author Note: I am actually quite pleased the previous chapter managed to anger quite a few of you. It's what I intended. Like Rias many of you are operating with limited information and some of it isn't accurate. That was intentional as there is no such thing as knowing everything going on. This chapter will drop some bombs that seem to contradict what I have written so far, but the truth of the matter is that many layers of deception have been happening. This chapter will clear some of that up and so will the next one.

Gremory vs Phenex Chapter One

"Three days?" Zeoticus Gremory asked incredulously as he heard Grayfia's report. He rose from his chair and began pacing about his study in order to remove the temptation of destroying a great deal of his daily paperwork. "Rias can't possibly be ready for a Rating Game in only three days! I am beginning to regret sparing that little brats life when he stole that thrice damned contract! I should have let you kill him, Darling."

"Well, at least you admit you were wrong now," Venelana Gremory offered her husband a sad smile as he watched him pace. "Unfortunately, it is much too late to do so now. I am curious about one thing, was it the whole Phenex Family who wanted those despicable terms that you had to refuse, Sirzechs?"

"No, it was only Lord Phenex himself as well as Rudolphus and Riser at the meeting," Sirzechs sighed heavily as he recalled the negotiations the Four Satans were forced to arbitrate. The two families were forced to be separated by barriers and concealment wards so they couldn't see or hear each other. It was necessary as his mother and father had physically assaulted Riser more than once over his transgressions. "I don't see Aunt Ramona supporting such a heinous condition."

"That is fortunate news." Grayfia spoke up, "Informing Xander-sama that it was only those three who threatened his friends will forestall the loss of an entire Pillar."

"What can we do to help Rias?" Zeoticus wasn't going to touch the comment that his Daughter's pawn could possibly eliminate an entire Family on his own. He knew his son could pull the feat off, but doubted a new minted Devil could, no matter how exceptional he was as a human.

"You could let her know you are actually on her side, just restrained by that contract." Sirzechs suggested. "You could also cheer for them in the Rating Game."

"I can do the second, but telling her the first is pointless," Zeoticus hung his head in defeat. "I'm bound by the contract to support the upcoming marriage even if I hate the groom.

"Why did you ever craft such a contract?" Venelana finally asked the question that she had been puzzling over since Riser had somehow procured it from their vaults.

"Simple, I want Rias to marry for love," Zeoticus sighed heavily, "I crafted it so she would give it to her chosen husband and I'd be compelled to ignore my over protective father impulses. Not to mention, she can't be bound to another contract."

Shop was normally one of Xander's favorite classes. Woodworking had always been calming even when he was whittling stakes for a nest raid. Today he was on edge and it wasn't due to the fact that there was only fifty six hours until the Rating Game to determine how soon Rias married the KFC reject. Honestly that would have been enough, but he had a different reason to be on edge. That reason was serving as a substitute teacher at the moment.

"How did you get in as substitute sensei?" Xander was polite as he posed the question. "Better yet, isn't this a little bit below you?"

"Nah, I love teaching children about building and smithing," Hephaestus smiled widely, "And are you going to claim I'm not qualified?"

"No, I couldn't even imagine making that claim, Sensei," Xander chuckled as he shook his head, "I am just wondering what you are doing here and don't even try to fib. I'm very good at picking up that kind of thing."

Hephaestus laughed heartily, "That's why I like you, Xander. You're not intimidated by the likes of us." The god of smiths brought out a bar of golden metal and placed it on the workbench, "I ran some test on the Sacred Gear you managed to break. Somehow some of it's power remained, even when I smelted it down into this bar of Adamantine."

"I take it that is a rarity." Xander mused as he ran his fingers over the surface of the small bar of metal. 'Whoa. It feels like it's connected to me.'

"Beyond a rarity." Hephaestus admitted, "It's literally a first as far as Sacred Gears go. I am unsure if it's due to you or the history of the Earrings themselves that led to this. Whatever the cause is, the power is still linked to you. So I'd like to forge something out of this for you. The question is what."

Xander looked at the bar of metal, seeing that it was three inches wide and eight wide. In his mind he saw the Gremory Emblem stamped on the surface. His infamous lopsided grin came to his face. "I have a thought, but it might not be possible…"

The entire ORC was gathered in the Clubroom doing their best to calm their nerves. Each of them was dressed in their normal battle attire. Akeno was in the traditional garb of a miko, though she had a few hidden weapons under the voluminous clothing. Kiba was wearing a pair of black slacks and white shirt over which he wore a tactical vest as well as knee and elbow pads. Asia was in her nun's habit and was carrying a satchel in which she had a few concussion grenades among other things. Koneko was wearing her normal gym clothing with knee and elbow pads, as well as kitten paw theme MMA gloves. Raynare stood proudly in her rather risqué fallen angel garb. Rias was in her school uniform, but had added knee and elbow pads. Finally, Xander himself was black pants and shirt with a tactical vest and pads.

"Uhm, I have something I want each of you to wear out there," Xander said as he started handing out the long strips of silk he had been carrying. They were a little over three feet long and just over three inches wide. Centered on the band was a golden metal plate that was eight inches long, three inches wide and an eighth of inch thick. Stamped in the middle of each metal plate was the Gremory Sigil and that was filled in by ruby dust. "Hephaestus and I made Hitai-ate out of the Earrings of Karna. They'll provide extra protection while we wear them."

"How much protection are we talking about?" Raynare took the first one and examined it a moment, before she tied it around her waist like a belt. The plain white silk instantly became the same black at the rest of her outfit.

"We're unsure, but it won't be as much as Caleb enjoyed. Hephaestus claimed it would still be considerable." Xander replied as the others began taking them. Kiba took one, the silk become gray as he tied it around his left thigh. Koneko's remained white as she wore it like a headband. Akeno's become the same orange as her usual hair ribbon and that was the way she decided to wear it. Asia's matched her habit as she wore it loosely around her neck. Rias' became the same crimson as her hair as she tied it around her right bicep. Xander donned the last one wearing it as a headband and it becoming the same crimson as Rias'. "I hope everyone likes them."

"Like It? I for one love it, Xander-kun," Rias gushed before she hugged him tight and kissed his cheek, "Thank you so much."

"It's cool." Koneko said as she admired hers in her compact.

"I really like it, Xander-kun." Asia smiled wide as she fidgeted with it, "They're just like in that Manga."

"It is sweet of you to think of the rest of, Xander-kun." Akeno hugged Xander from the back before she whispered in his ear, "I'll have to think of a special thank you later."

"Thank you, Xander-kun," Kiba nodded to the man.

"As sweet as all this is, I am afraid it is time to go," Raynare interrupted the love fest and gestured to the glowing magical circle that had just appeared.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lord Reginald Phenex fumed as he saw the screens displaying the two peerages preparing for transport. Reginald bore a striking resemblance to his son Riser, from the hairstyle to mode of dress. His face was more mature and he had a goatee but otherwise they could have been identical. "That Fallen Angel is not part of the Gremory Peerage. Reginald wants her removed immediately."

"As Rias' Bishop is unable to participate in the battle, the Fallen Angel Raynare is serving as a substitute." Sirzechs kept calm and refrained from his first impulse. Over the last decade Reginald had started becoming a true pain in the ass for the Four Maous. "I am actually quite interested in how she will fare."

"Well, Reginald couldn't be less interested. She's not a Devil and has no place in these proceedings." Reginald snarled, "She'll be removed or Reginald will pull Riser out of this."

"If you do that, it will be a forfeit on your part," Grayfia spoke up, her tone ice cold as spoke to the Lord Phenex, "Rias-sama made the proper inquiries and I approved the roster change two days ago. I even forwarded it to you so you could make an appeal. You did not respond, so Raynare-chan will be serving House Gremory as a Bishop in this match."

"Zeoticus, order your wayward daughter to withdraw the Fallen." Reginald snarled as he saw one avenue closed to him.

"As my daughter's pawn would say: Blow it out your ass, KFC reject." Zeoticus responded with a smile on his face. "And don't think of appealing to my wife, she'd likely just test your regeneration prowess."

"I still might," Venelana replied as she studied her nails, "Imagine the nerve of thinking ordering the head of another family around."

"Husband, please calm down, you are causing a scene," Lady Ramona Phenex tried to placate her husband even as she gave an apologetic look to the rest. "The match will be starting soon and you know how you love to watch Riser play. It is also Ravel's debut and I for one want to see my little girl in action."

"That's true," Reginald visibly calmed as he turned his full attention back to the screens. "The presence of the Fallen bitch won't make a difference. Riser will crush the Gremory peerage."

'Did the circle fail?' Xander was glancing around the ORC Clubroom with some concern. It wasn't until he inhaled that he noticed anything strange. 'There are no residual smells. They created a replica.' "Never mind, I was holding the idiot ball for a moment."

"Just a moment?" Koneko quipped with just a hint of a smile on her face.

"No, even I was fooled for a few moments," Rias spoke up in defense of Xander's confusion, "It wasn't until I tried to feel the wards that I was sure."

"It seems they copied everything physical, but nothing else." Akeno observed as she glanced around, "And they were sweet enough to copy the proof that Xander cares about me." The playful tease was there as she gestured to the trophy case with the bronzed skull and spine.

(Attention: The Gremory vs Phenex Rating Game will begin in twenty minutes. The battleground is a reproduction of the Kouh Academy in Japan. Home Territory for the Gremory Peerage is the Old School Building. Home Territory for the Phenex Peerage is the Administration Wing of the main Academy. Everything of a purely physical nature that existed in Kouh Academy will exist here with the exception of animal life.) The voice of Grayfia Lucifuge echoed in the minds of both peerages. (I am Grayfia Lucifuge and I will be the Arbiter for this match. My decisions will be considered final. Any further appeals will be considered a personal challenge.)

"Well, that last bit almost made me have to change my thong," Raynare admitted as she displayed a massive sweat drop.

(Rias-chan, I want you to know I am cheering for you. Beat that spoiled brat. Show everyone that you are your mother's daughter.) Zeoticus' voice was heard by the Gremory Peerage. (Xander-san my son's Queen believes in you. Prove her right.)

"Tou-san?" Rias was shocked. Every since Riser had pressed for the contract, her father had been supporting the marriage verbally and politically. So much so that Rias had become rather rebellious and did the opposite of what he said in many regards. 'Is he trying to make me want to lose? No, he'd never want to bring any dishonor to Kaa-san.' Shaking her head out of her thoughts she looked to the rest of her Peerage. "Akeno-chan, Koneko-chan, and Kiba-kun start laying traps around the School House and in the wooded area. Riser will likely send some pawns through there in a sneak attack."

"On it." Akeno said as she started leading the squad out the door. "Come on my little Kohai, let's prepare a warm reception for the little birds."

"Well, this will be fun." Kiba chuckled as he followed the miko out, "I want to try out some of Xander-kun's claymores."

"I almost feel sorry for them," Koneko deadpanned as she joined the others.

"Raynare-san, help Asia-chan create a stable barrier around the building. Nothing you have to maintain, just something that will slow them down in case they get past the traps," Rias gave out the next set of orders with little pause. She hadn't much time to create any sort of plan, but had consulted Sona on some ideas. "If you're attacked before you finish, I want you both to retreat immediately. Asia is too precious as a healer to risk in a confrontation at the moment."

"Understood, Buchou." Raynare nodded, "Let's go, imouto, we have defenses to build."

"I knew I shouldn't have shown you 13th Warrior." Asia giggled, "We'll be back soon, Rias-nee. Xander-kun… good luck."

"Thank you, Asia-chan." Xander flashed his lopsided grin as he watched the pair leave. Once they were out the door he turned to Rias. "I know what you're thinking. I didn't plant all that much around the school. I haven't had much time. There is a nice Sniper's nest, but that's about it."

"As much as that would help, I need you in direct combat more than I need you as a sniper," Rias frowned as she considered her options. 'That nest would give us a huge advantage, but the only one who could really use it is Xander.' She sat down on the couch and motioned for Xander to sit beside her, "Put your head in my lap and just relax for a few minutes."

"My head in your lap and relax? Choose one." Xander joked even as he tried to do just what Rias told him. He sat down and then laid his torso down so that his head was indeed resting on Rias' thighs. 'Does she understand what she does to me?' No matter how much he fought it, Xander was immensely attracted to Rias physically and emotionally. The same was true of Akeno, Asia, and Koneko, but not quite to the same extent as the redhead.

"Do I make you that nervous, Xander-kun?" Rias' tone was more than a little teasing as she ran her hands through his hair. 'I might as well get some enjoyment out of this. Maou forbid we lose, Riser will pressure me into sending Xander away.'

"No… you don't make me nervous at all, Bucho-chan," Xander tried his best to physically relax. It could have been classified as success if one only considered the voluntary muscles. Unfortunately two different organs were responding to being so close. His heart was racing and not-so-little Xander was at half-mast. 'Down boy, she does not need anything like that now. Besides, we have a fight to win.'

"I see." Rias smirked as she was able to read between the lines well. Xander had a bad habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve even when he tried to hide it. "Well, that's good. Now, I am removing a block I placed on Issei when he was reincarnated. His body was impressive, but it wasn't strong enough to handle all the power that came with absorbing eight pawns. You are more than strong enough for me to release all of it."

"Wait. You mean I have even more Devil Power than I've been using?" Xander's eyes opened wide as he considered the possibility. He wasn't in the league of Asia or Akeno, but he had been well ahead of Koneko and Kiba.

"Only a little bit more as your reserves are impressive," Rias explained with more than a hint of pride in her voice, "This will unlock more of your physical power and it will help you control your magic more easily. The change won't be as drastic for you as it would have been for Issei. Just try to relax I will be releasing it… now!"

In the Headmaster's office, Riser is taking a moment to enjoy the very comfortable chair with the massage feature as his peerage is checking over their weapons. "Riser likes this massaging chair, Mihae make a note of the brand and model, each of you will receive one for Maoumas."

"You are most generous, Riser-sama." The kind hearted bishop said as she retrieved a notepad from somewhere in her kimono. Mihae dutifully jotted down the information and why.

"Burent, Miriam, and Shuriya, You will circle through this wooded area and attempt to infiltrate the Old School House, once you do promote yourselves to Queen and defeat anyone there," Riser commanded as he indicated the areas he meant on the map. "Rias is intelligent, but she has no experience in Rating Games or in true combat. So likely the woods will little to no defenses to speak of. Her first move will likely be the Athletic building in the middle of the grounds. Xuelan, take Lle, Nell, and Miya to there and eliminate anyone there. Once you secure the building, signal Mihae, Li and Ne to join you in an assault on the Old School Houses. Ravel, you will have command of Isabella, Siris, and Karlamine. Your primary target are are Rias' Knight and Pawn, I want them eliminated with prejudice. Yubelluna, you will be in the skies to eliminate Rias' Queen or any other targets of opportunity."

"Forgive me, Lord Riser, but I believe your plan is flawed," Yubelluna spoke up after orders were issued, "Rias-sama may not have much experience, but Xander-san has more than everyone in this room combined. He is our primary concern here."

"Are you joking, Bell-chan? That Pawn is just a low class devil, there is no way he's a threat to my Onii-chan." Ravel huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Riser agrees with Ravel-chan, everyone proceed as ordered." Riser commanded.

"Looks like Rias was correct," Xander idly commented as he stood on the stage at the one end of the Athletic Building. "Riser sent one Chun-li rip off, two Lolis, and Stickfighter. Which do you want Koneko-chan?"

Koneko took a step forward as she tightened her MMA gloves, "I'll take Chun-li if you don't mind."

"Fair enough," Xander nodded, "Hey little Birdies, I'll give you a chance to fly before we clip your wings."

"Is he a dumbass?" Lle asked as she set down her gym bag. "We outnumber them two to one."

"I don't know, but he's the one Lord Riser wants eliminated," Nel pointed out as she also set down her gym bag.

"Don't be over confident," Xuelan ordered as she took up a fighting stance. "Yubelluna-sama warned us about him. I'll eliminate the Rook, you three take out the Pawn."

"Hey, what do you know, they liked your idea, Koneko-chan." Xander brought his arms into an X in front of him manifesting the pair of armored gauntlets of the Boosted Gear. [BOOST!] His hair ruffled by the release of power before he leapt to the attack.

Koneko did not even respond, she leapt at the same time Xander did. Gathering chakra into her fist she came down intending to smash Xuelan's head down into her torso. The Chinese kung-fu specialist leapt back at the last moment, just barely avoiding the devastating attack. Koneko's smashed a two meter diameter section of the parquet flooring into sawdust. The small girl didn't even pause she immediately lashed out with a kick aimed at Xuelan's chin as she back flipped into a more stable position.

'Maou she's fast!' Xuelan couldn't help but think as the dainty foot caught her in the chin and send her reeling back despite it being only a glancing blow, 'And powerful.'

"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" Xander screamed as came in foot first aimed for Mira's head. The staff fighter had been so shocked she couldn't raise her weapon to defend herself. Instead she took the size fourteen boot right to face and was sent tumbling ass over teakettle until she slammed into the far wall, actually causing it to crater from the impact.

'Fuck!' was the only coherent thought Miya had as she sank to the ground. She couldn't see straight and there were so many pretty stars and birdies to look at.

Sairaorg Bael smiled widely as he saw the impressive attack for such a young devil. "I think I like this Xander."

"Rias won't trade him for anything," Sona Sitri decided to cut off the thought that Rias' cousin was obviously thinking.

"All the better," Sairaorg's smile grew a little, "Once he is properly trained he could be fun to fight."

"If you say so." Sona shook her head. 'I think the more correct term would be suicidal.'

"Through here, I can see the Building." Burent called back to her partners for this assault. She was in the middle of a clearing, but in the distance it was clear their objected was only a few dozen meters away. "I can't believe they were this careless."

"Who care? I'll take an easy win," Miriam retorted as came into the clearing. "Perhaps Riser-sama will let us play with the boys if we retire the Gremory Princess."

"Oh, that would be nice." Shuriya smiled wide as she strode into the clearing, "I really want to take that Knight for a ride. He looks innocent and I want to corrupt him. Though, I bet that Pawn can punish a girl all night and make her beg for more."

Burent shook her head as she looked to her two perverted partners. "We should be loyal to Lord Riser, not letting any male rut with us."

"Oh shut it Burent-sempai, he can't hear us out here," Shuriya rolled her eyes as she approached the maid and poked in the chest, "I'm tired of being ignored because of his obsession with the redhead. I deserve a little action. Don't tell me you haven't been neglected either. The only one he's been doing is Yubelluna-sama and he makes her change her hair color."

"Shut up, both you, you're being loud enough…" Miriam was speaking as she approached her partners and her foot caught a hidden wire.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The clearing was filled with hundreds of metallic balls moving faster than the speed of sound as five claymores detonated in tandem. As the shrapnel tore their way through the personal shields and flesh of each of Riser's pawns the Retirement system activated. Burent, Miriam, and Shuriya vanished in a show of blue white motes.

(Three of Riser's Pawns are Retired due to overwhelming damage) Grayfia's voice echoed in everyone's mind.

"Well, that worked even better than I thought." Kiba commented as he entered clearing and noted that there was blood spray in each direction. "Note to self, check for tripwires in case anyone copies this idea."

"What in the name of all that is Unholy was that?" Reginald's eyes nearly bugged out of his head at the destruction that the five small boxes created. It was something that normally was only possibly by Mid-class devils.

"Something the Humans invented not that long ago," Sirzech commented, "Not a real threat to a High Class Devil, but it would still be extremely annoying."

"Well, that was certainly surprising," Zeoticus commented as he digested what he just witnessed, "Kiba-kun has a vicious side."

"I believe that particular trick is something Kiba-kun learned from Xander-sama," Grayfia said with a slight grin.

"Really? I more I hear of Xander-kun, the more I like him," Venelana smirked before she took a sip of her wine, "He would undoubtedly make a better Gremory than Riser-san."

"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Lle was running as fast as he legs could carry her. Nel was directly to her right. Now normally they were no strangers to running. Their weapon of choice was their enchanted Chainsaws that allowed them to cut through even a Rook's defenses given enough time. The favored tactic of the pair was charge in at a full sprint and slash at the poor victim while shouting out cheers about how they would slice them up. Unfortunately the moment they had revved their chainsaw the shmuck they intended to carve up flipped his shit. He'd literally grabbed their chainsaws by the blade and ruined them on his unbreakable gauntlets. Now he was chasing them with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire.

"I don't know!" Nel screamed back as she avoided another swing of the bat, "I think it might be PTSD!"

"Then shouldn't he be… whoa hey!...hiding in a corner cowering in fear!" Lle screamed back.

"Come back here you murdering psychos." Xander screamed as he was chasing the two mint haired girls. [BOOST!] "You carved my girls up. Now take your punishment!"

Miya had finally shaken off her daze and stood back up. Nursing the side of her face that was now one massive bruise she watched her attacker chasing Lle and Nel for a few moments. 'Damn, he's a psycho! I gotta save the girls.' Channeling her devil power into her Staff she thrust it towards Xander. "*Wind Blast*!"

Xander was buffeted with intense wind until he was bodily lifted and slammed into a section of bleachers. The collision was so powerful he actually was blown through the wooden seats. The bat he'd been holding clattered to the floor as he lost group.

"Phew, thank you, Miya!" Lle stopped running and bent over, bracing herself on her knees to catch her breath.

Her twin sister, Nel, was doing the same. "He was going to kill us."

Koneko was having a blast, though as usual she wasn't letting show. She had been trading blow with Xuelan for several minutes and all the kung fu mistress had to show for it was slicing through shorts and shirt. Another girl probably would have been embarrassed to show off their Hello Kitty bra and panty set, but Koneko couldn't have cared less. Aside from Xander everyone else there was a girl.

"You're good," Koneko said as she caught Xuelan's leg mid kick, "But you made a mistake." With that proclamation the smaller girl brought her fist down as hard as she could on the larger woman's knees. With a sickening crunch the knee broken and then bent the wrong way. "Sorry, not sorry."

"AAAAAHHHH!" Xuelan cried out as she rolled around on the floor of the gymnasium. She'd never experienced such a brutal attack and was unable to defend herself as Konkeo broke her arm in a similar fashion at the elbow. "Monster!"

Xander pulled himself out of the bleachers with a snarl. He hated losing control of himself like that. Ever since the episode in Botswana he went on a major freak out when ever confronted with small girls using chainsaws as weapons. He hadn't actually lost any of his girls, but two of them had lost arms. "Thank you for that, Miya, lost myself for a moment. Unfortunately, it still isn't going to save you. Surrender… please."

"No, you're the one who's going to pay, jackass," Lle called out as she pulled out a balisong and flipped it open.

"We're going to slice your balls off." Nel yelled as she readied her own balisong.

"And I owe you a black eye," Miya said as she readied herself for another attack.

"The hard way it is, then," Xander sighed heavily. [BOOST!] Surging forward, Xander slapped the Balisong out of Nel's hand before giving her a not so gentle push that sent her sprawling across the floor. Lle found herself pushed forward casing her to go tumbling into the bleachers. Miya attempted to strike him with her Staff, only for Xander to catch it and then thrust an open palm through the shaft like it was flimsy balsa wood.

"My staff!" Miya whined before she took a palm strike to the gut that doubled her over in over to catch her breath.

Xander ended his charge back near the stage where he gave the three girls the infamous come get me gesture.

"YOU'RE DEAD!" Miya, Lle, and Nell all screamed in unison as they began charging.

Xander contorted his hands in several different strange configurations and then said "*Secret Pervert Jutsu: Dress Break!*"

Instantly there was the shredding sound of clothing as the clothes of the three girls were completely shredded. They weren't even left with their shoes. Their charge came to a halt as they covered their bodies instinctively.

"It certainly is an unorthodox attack, and relatively harmless," Sona observed. "That is rather unlike Xander-san."

"No, not really," Tsubaki said, "It's harmless but it would neutralize most women in a fight. It would also be good for removing an enemy's armor and possibly any healing items they have. It's a mercy takedown"

"You have a valid point," Sona nodded, "We'll have to try to train the girls to not be embarrassed by nudity."

"You were only supposed to remove their shoes, Xander-sempai," Koneko frowned at Xander, clearly unhappy with what he did, "Don't become a pervert."

"It's an all or nothing technique and it's not like I have to use it if I want to see them naked." Xander huffed as he turned away from the sobbing girls. "And it's certainly less traumatizing than how you immobilized Xuelan."

"Tch, whatever you say, Sempai," Koneko deadpanned, "Come on, we have to leave." She said as she grabbed Xander's arm and began running out of the gymnasium. As they did satchels above each door dropped hundred of caltrops.

"I wonder why they left like that?" Nel muttered.

BOOOOOOM!

Xander and Koneko had been running away from the Athletic building at full speed but the shockwave still picked them up and flung them along. Luckily, they were far enough away all that really happened some tumbling along the ground for a few meters.

(One of Riser's Rooks and Three Pawns have been retired due to overwhelming damage)

"Note to self: Akeno-chan likes to make big explosions." Xander muttered as he climbed to his feat. "Koneko-chan are you alright?"

"I am tougher than you are, Xander-baka," Koneko kipped up to her feet and brushed some dirt off her tattered clothes. "If you are alright then you know I am."

"Well, sorry for worrying, Koneko-chan," Xander rolled his eyes at the idea of apologizing for being concerned. "Let me mend those clothes before we link up with Kiba and Raynare." Xander flashed through some more of his odd sign language. "*Secret Zeppo Jutsu: Clothing Repair*!"

Koneko marveled as he clothing actually returned to it's normal state, but then she frowned as it was no longer loose, but tight enough it was almost painted on. "Xander-senpai, why is it skin tight?"

"I can't create cloth out of nothing, so shrinkage is normal." Xander replied with a shrug, "Looks good on you though."

"Sempai is becoming a pervert," Koneko's disapproval was palpable as she shook her head. Then her eyes widened before she pushed Xander away from herself making him tumble a dozen yards before coming to a rest.

BOOOOOM!

Xander didn't get to see the explosion itself, but he sure saw the crater that Koneko was laying in the middle of. Before he could even get to his feet she was already dissolving into the blue light of the retirement system.

(One Rook of Rias of Gremory retired due to unconsciousness)

"Oh, that is too bad, I was hoping to take you both out with that blast." Yubelluna hovered above the crater facing Xander, "You're too big a threat to ignore, Xander-kun. I apologize for what I am about to do."

[BOOST!]

"You won't need to apologize," Xander ground out between clenched teeth, "You'll need to beg for mercy."

The Hitai-ate of Gremory

Bearers: Rias Gremory, Akeno Himejima, Koneko Toujou, Asia Argento, Kiba Yuuto, Raynare, and Xander Harris
Manufacturer: Hephaestus and Xander from the broken sacred gear of the Earrings of Karna.
Appearance: A golden adamantine forehead protector plate on a silk tie that is whatever color the wearer wishes. The plate has the Gremory sigil engraved on it's surface, the sigil filled with ruby dust.
Powers:
-Aura of Defense: Each Hitai-ate vastly increases the defenses of the bearer. This effectively adds a Rook's level of defense atop what the wearer possesses.
-Godly Constitution: Each Hitai-ate gives the bearer near Godlike Stamina allowing them to fight at full capacity for hours before tiring.
-The Hitai-ate can be worn in virtually any manner in order to grant it's abilities.
-Xander wears his as a Forehead Protector in combat, as does Koneko
-Asia wears hers around her neck in combat.
-Asia and Koneko wear their as Headbands when they are not in combat
-Akeno wears her as a Ponytail holder
-Kiba wears it wrapped around his left thigh.
-Raynare wears hers as a belt
-Rias wears hers on her right bicep. Outside of combat Xander wears his in the same place..
-Xander's Hitai-ate will create new ones as he accepts more people as he considers someone part of his girls or brothers.