XXXIII

Exhausted after battling storm spirits, Jason forgets to hold his breath as a ventus disintegrates, blacks out, and falls into a vivid dream. He finds himself on a Manhattan rooftop facing Camp Jupiter officers led by Reyna, with Octavian agitating at her side.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare and satyr Grover Underwood arrive to parley. They present a message, allegedly from Annabeth in Tartarus, requesting Reyna personally deliver the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-Blood to prevent war. Reyna’s metallic hounds detect no deceit, and Rachel briefly radiates prophetic power, reinforcing her warning that Gaea is stirring everywhere.

The talk reveals Ella the harpy has memorized the lost Sibylline Books, inflaming Octavian, who demands hostages and dismisses the Greeks’ plea as a trick. Rachel counters that uniting Greek and Roman aspects is essential and that the giants’ main ritual will be in Greece, but the threat will spread everywhere.

Weighing the stakes, Reyna decides to undertake the mission for peace and instructs Marcus to ready Scipio. She orders Octavian and the legion not to attack Camp Half-Blood while she is gone, though she acknowledges Octavian will be senior officer in her absence. Jason recognizes Reyna’s implied plan to seek powerful aid en route.

After Rachel and Grover depart, Octavian immediately prepares to reshape the legion’s plans once Reyna leaves, signaling likely disobedience. The dream shatters as Piper’s voice cuts through, and Jason wakes to find himself still plunging toward the ocean.