XI

Leo, Percy, Frank, and Hazel confront Nike at Olympia. The goddess dazzles in gold and agitates them with an aura of competition. When Frank asks if she is Nike or Victoria, the goddess splits into two flickering aspects: Greek Nike and Roman Victoria, both obsessed with declaring a single winner.

Nike rants that victory must be absolute, rejecting compromise and insisting on a contest. Despite Hazel’s attempt to redirect her toward the true enemy, Gaea, Victoria demands Greeks versus Romans. Nike offers her help as a prize, but only for the sole survivor. The goddess’s aura stokes hostility, pushing the demigods toward fighting one another.

Percy refuses and challenges Nike instead. In response, Nike creates four metallic Nikai—armed replicas—to force compliance and declares they have five minutes to prepare before blood is spilled. The Nikai herd the demigods through the ruins toward the stadium entrance, a tunnel called the crypt.

At the archway, the Nikai vanish from sight, having driven them where Nike wants. Hazel senses lingering pain and ghosts in the stones and explains that once they enter the field, they won’t be allowed to leave until three are dead. She proposes using the arch as a gateway to manipulate the terrain, raising obstacles and portions of the Labyrinth to unsettle Nike and buy time.

Though Percy and Leo distrust the Labyrinth, Hazel argues they must play to Nike’s expectations, pretend to fight, neutralize the Nikai, and then subdue Nike to stop her divisive influence. Frank agrees that Nike’s power is fueling Greek-Roman conflict. As the countdown looms, Leo reveals he brought specialized “toys,” hinting at a plan to capture or disable the goddess.