LI

Daylight bursts into Arachne’s cavern as the Argo II blasts an opening, sending debris and cars raining down. The Athena Parthenos’ aura deflects impacts while Annabeth, exhausted and injured, reunites with Percy and recounts trapping Arachne. The crew realizes they must take the statue to Greece to aid their fight against the giants.

Percy reports Bacchus’s aid in Rome and Nico’s discovery that the Doors of Death must be closed from both sides—one in Epirus, the other in Tartarus—darkening the stakes. As the collapsing floor undermines the pedestal, Annabeth orders the team to secure the statue. Leo, Jason, and Frank scramble to lasso the Athena Parthenos while Hazel and Nico move for the ladder.

Suddenly, Annabeth is yanked backward. Spider silk, unnoticed on her leg, tightens and drags her toward the chasm. Percy catches her wrist and clings to a small ledge, but the pull from below—Arachne’s weight in the abyss—makes rescue impossible. Hazel shouts to cut the web, but there’s no time or free hand to draw Riptide.

Realizing they cannot both be saved, Annabeth urges Percy to let go. Instead, Percy commands Nico to lead the crew to Epirus and the Doors’ mortal side. Promising they’ll stay together, Percy releases the ledge. Hand in hand, he and Annabeth fall into Tartarus as their friends scream above and the statue remains lashed to the ship.