XXIV

As Orion’s forces breach the Amazon base, Phoebe and Amazons fall under a hail of black arrows. Hylla drags Reyna away, arming her en route, and leads her up into their childhood home in Old San Juan, which Hylla has reclaimed. Reyna recoils at returning to the site of old trauma, and the sisters argue about confronting the past.

Outside, Orion confronts them—handsome, augmented with mechanical eyes, and confident. He taunts Reyna about her loyalties and failed romances, trying to destabilize her. Reyna keeps him talking, probing his history and pride, and realizes a key fact: Orion has been tracking Reyna, not the Athena Parthenos, meaning the statue remains safely hidden.

When Orion claims to have burned the lair and slain all below, Hylla attacks. A vicious fight follows in the street. Reyna and Hylla coordinate strikes, but Orion’s strength and weaponry press them hard. Hylla, empowered by the Amazon belt, snaps an arrow, flips a car onto him, and vows vengeance for the fallen.

As Orion prepares a killing shot, reinforcements arrive from the rooftops: Coach Hedge smashes Orion with a bat, Nico severs the bowstring, and Hunters riddle the giant with silver arrows and Greek fire. Thalia pulls Reyna to retreat while Hylla physically hurls Orion down the street and stays to delay him, urging Reyna to go.

Reyna, Nico, Hedge, and Thalia race toward the Athena Parthenos. On the balcony of Reyna’s family house, accusing ghosts reappear, calling her murderer and traitor, shattering her composure. Nico steadies her, and they withdraw as Orion roars amid exploding Greek fire, leaving Hylla and the Hunters to hold him off.