the_blood_of_olympus_-_rick_riordan

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Jason
AS SOON AS GAIA ACHIEVED LIFTOFF, the ground solidified.
Demigods stopped sinking, though many were still buried up to their waists. Sadly, the monsters
seemed to be digging themselves out more quickly. They charged the Greek and Roman ranks, taking
advantage of the demigods’ disorganization.
Jason put his arms around Piper’s waist. He was about to take off when Percy yelled, ‘Wait! Frank
can fly the rest of us up there! We can all –’
‘No, man,’ Jason said. ‘They need you here. There’s still an army to defeat. Besides, the prophecy
–’
‘He’s right.’ Frank gripped Percy’s arm. ‘You have to let them do this, Percy. It’s like Annabeth’s
quest in Rome. Or Hazel at the Doors of Death. This part can only be them.’
Percy obviously didn’t like it, but at that moment a flood of monsters swept over the Greek forces.
Annabeth called to him, ‘Hey! Problem over here!’ Percy ran to join her.
Frank and Hazel turned to Jason. They raised their arms in the Roman salute, then ran off to regroup
the legion.
Jason and Piper spiralled upward on the wind.
‘I’ve got the cure,’ Piper murmured like a chant. ‘It’ll be fine. I’ve got the cure.’
Jason realized she’d lost her sword somehow during the battle, but he doubted it would matter.
Against Gaia, a sword would do no good. This was about storm and fire … and a third power,
Piper’s charmspeak, which would hold them together. Last winter, Piper had slowed the power of
Gaia at the Wolf House, helping to free Hera from a cage of earth. Now she would have an even
bigger job.
As they ascended, Jason gathered the wind and clouds around him. The sky responded with
frightening speed. Soon they were in the eye of a maelstrom. Lightning burned his eyes. Thunder made
his teeth vibrate.
Directly above them, Festus grappled with the earth goddess. Gaia kept disintegrating, trying to
trickle back to the ground, but the winds kept her aloft. Festus sprayed her with flames, which seemed
to force her into solid form. Meanwhile, from Festus’s back, Leo blasted the goddess with flames of
his own and hurled insults. ‘Potty Sludge! Dirt Face! THIS IS FOR MY MOTHER, ESPERANZA
VALDEZ!’
His whole body was wreathed in fire. Rain hung in the stormy air, but it only sizzled and steamed
around him.
Jason zoomed towards them.