The Heroes of Olympus, #5
The Blood of Olympus
by Rick Riordan
Contents
XXVII
Overview
Underwater at Poseidon’s ruined palace, Jason kills swarming basilisks, but Polybotes poisons and nets Percy. Jason persuades the storm goddess Kymopoleia to abandon Gaea by promising honor and fear among mortals. Together, Jason and Kym slay Polybotes, shifting a key ally away from Gaea and saving Percy’s life.
Summary
Amid the underwater ruins, Jason confronts a swarm of basilisks harrying Percy. Lacking better options, Jason channels a storm’s power; a web of underwater lightning fries all ten serpents, clearing the immediate threat.
Polybotes counters by sweeping a cloud of black poison through the water and ensnaring Percy in a weighted net. As Percy weakens and drops Riptide, Jason’s ventus shields him from the toxins and whisks him from a killing blow, buying precious time.
Realizing brute force will fail, Jason turns to Kymopoleia, challenging her alliance with Gaea. He argues that without mortals, she cannot be feared or honored. He offers shrines at New Rome and Camp Half-Blood, fame, and even “merchandising,” while Polybotes belittles her and admits Gaea’s world would have no mortals to terrorize.
Offended and enticed by recognition, Kymopoleia accepts Jason’s bargain. Jason wounds Polybotes; Kym then hurls her bronze disk, decapitating the giant. With Polybotes dead, Percy is saved from a lingering death, and Kymopoleia’s defection marks a pivotal shift against Gaea.
Who Appears
- Jason GraceStrategizes undersea; kills basilisks with lightning, negotiates with Kymopoleia, and helps bring down Polybotes to save Percy.
- KymopoleiaStorm goddess swayed by Jason’s promise of honor and fear; turns on Gaea and decapitates Polybotes.
- PolybotesGiant of the sea; poisons and nets Percy, battles Jason, and is beheaded by Kymopoleia.
- Percy JacksonFights basilisks, then is poisoned and trapped by Polybotes, nearly dying before Jason secures aid.
- Jason’s ventusWind spirit that filters poison and yanks Jason out of lethal strikes during the battle.