Contents
LXXV
Overview
Hecate appears as Clytius regains strength, but Hazel uses the Mist to protect Percy, Annabeth, and Leo and wounds the giant. Despite Clytius’s taunts, Hazel cuts both chains to the Doors of Death, banishing them beyond Gaea’s reach. Exhausted, Hazel is saved as Jason, Piper, Nico, and Frank arrive to join the fight.
Summary
Hecate’s torches flare as Clytius regains composure and smothers Percy and Annabeth in darkness, even puppeting Leo to speak. Acting on instinct, Hazel bends the Mist, pulling Percy, Annabeth, and Leo behind her and shielding them with a white shroud that hisses against the giant’s smoke.
Hecate praises Hazel’s power. Hazel pelts Clytius with gems, piercing his armor, but the giant heals and taunts Hecate’s history to undermine Hazel’s trust. Annabeth rasps a warning about the chains on the Doors of Death, forcing Hazel to prioritize freeing them despite Clytius blocking the way.
Hazel charges, ducks under Clytius, and stabs him from behind, then dashes to the Doors and shatters the left-side chains. Clytius smashes her into a wall, leaving her barely standing. With the Mist thinning and her friends still weakened, Hazel hurls her sword across the chamber to break the remaining chains, and the Doors vanish in a purple flash.
Enraged, Clytius vows a slow death, claiming Hecate will fail her. Hecate counters that Hazel only needed time. As Clytius dismisses Hazel’s allies, the Mist ripples into a doorway, and Frank, Nico, Piper, and Jason step through, weapons drawn, ready to take on the giant.
Who Appears
- Hazel LevesqueLeads the fight; wields the Mist to shield friends, wounds Clytius, and severs the Doors’ chains, banishing them.
- ClytiusShadow giant opposing the heroes; taunts Hecate, heals himself, and threatens Hazel before reinforcements arrive.
- HecateGoddess of magic; lends Hazel strength, withholds direct action, and opens the way for the others to arrive.
- Leo ValdezRevives under Hazel’s Mist; tries to help with fire but yields to Hazel’s lead and aids Percy and Annabeth.
- Annabeth ChaseRegains consciousness enough to warn Hazel about the Doors’ chains, guiding Hazel’s decisive move.
- Percy JacksonWeak and recovering; shielded by Hazel’s Mist while Leo tends him with ambrosia.
- Jason GraceArrives through the Mist with sword drawn to help kill Clytius.
- Nico di AngeloArrives with the reinforcements as Hazel invokes him while finishing the Doors’ destruction.
- Frank ZhangArrives bandaged but ready, alongside Jason, Piper, and Nico, to confront Clytius.
- Piper McLeanJoins the late-arriving team, weapon ready, to support Hazel against Clytius.