Percy sprints across Olympus with Zeus’s heavy chalice, quickly discovering that heroic urgency does not make the cup easier to carry. Annabeth’s invisibility cap keeps most Olympus-dwellers from noticing him, but the longer Percy wears it, the more painfully itchy it becomes.

Following Grover’s plant-based directions and the chalice’s pull toward Ganymede, Percy reaches a jasmine-covered side entrance to Zeus’s palace. A cloud nymph named Naomi answers, initially suspicious, but lets Percy into the kitchen after he mentions Grover and shows the chalice.

Inside, Percy sees a vast divine kitchen where nymphs prepare brunch for the gods. Naomi understands that Percy is not supposed to have the chalice and realizes this explains Ganymede’s panic, but Naomi refuses to summon Ganymede. Naomi agrees only to pretend Percy is not there, leaving Percy to solve the problem himself.

Percy peeks through the kitchen doors into Zeus’s extravagant dining room, which is filled with lightning-themed decorations, arcade machines, and divine guests including Zeus, Hera, Rhea, Athena, Hermes, and Demeter. Ganymede stands behind Zeus empty-handed and visibly terrified, sweating Greek fire because he cannot serve drinks without the chalice.

Percy catches Ganymede’s eye and signals for Ganymede to come to the kitchen, but Zeus grabs Ganymede’s wrist and insists Ganymede stay for a speech honoring Rhea. Percy realizes that if Ganymede cannot come to the chalice, Percy must carry the chalice into the dangerous dining room himself.