The next day, Darius, Dragon, and the newly added member of their small family, Swain, went together to the Grey Terminal.
The vast landfill-like area stretched endlessly before them, full of broken machines, rusted metals, and the discarded remains of ships.
Darius decided that this would be the perfect place to train both Dragon and Swain. He planned to teach them how to fight, survive, and make use of their strength.
Swain, at this time, was still just a small wolf pup, but Darius believed that if he began training early, the results would be far greater in the future.
In his mind, Swain had the instincts of a predator, and with enough guidance, he could become a true beast of battle, capable of using his natural gifts far beyond what normal animals could achieve.
From Darius's point of view, nothing was impossible in this world. He remembered how, in the story he once read, Mihawk had managed to train a group of monkeys strong enough to spar with Zoro before the timeskip, and those monkeys had grown powerful enough to mimic swordsmanship.
If even animals could learn swordsmanship in this world, then a wolf trained under him could definitely become more than just a pet.
Another one of Darius' goals was to make Dragon stronger than the version of him he had seen in the manga chapters of his past life.
In those stories, Dragon had become a revolutionary feared by the world, but Darius wanted to make sure that his brother would reach that level safely and even surpass it, avoiding any possible dangers that the future might bring.
Their training began immediately. Every day, Darius took Dragon and Swain to the Grey Terminal to collect metal scraps.
These scraps, which most people saw as trash, were valuable resources for Darius's training plan.
He made both of them gather the heaviest pieces they could find and drag them back using a sled he had built from broken wood and rope.
At first, Dragon and Swain struggled. The metal pieces were heavy, far beyond what either of them had ever lifted before, but Darius didn't let them stop.
The first day alone took nearly five hours just to transport a single full load of metal back to their base in the forest.
Darius watched carefully, offering little help, only stepping in when necessary.
As they passed through the Grey Terminal, they often encountered scavengers and bandits who tried to take their collected metal.
Darius used these moments as part of the training, refusing to intervene and instead making Dragon and Swain defend their haul.
The rule was simple: protect what's yours, and never back down.
At first, Dragon was hesitant to fight people, and Swain was still too inexperienced to be useful in combat, but as the days passed, both began to improve rapidly.
After just a week, their progress was noticeable.
Swain's body grew visibly larger, his muscles developing faster than a normal wolf's should. His fur became glossier, and his eyes sharper.
Dragon, too, was changing; his movements were becoming faster, and his reflexes sharper, the results of being pushed to his limits every day.
Their diet also played a big role. Every evening, Darius hunted Sea Kings near the shore, bringing back chunks of their meat to cook and share.
Sea King meat was rich in nutrients and protein, known across the seas for its strength-enhancing properties.
Because of that, both Dragon and Swain recovered from exhaustion at an unnatural rate, their stamina increasing day by day.
A month passed, and the difference between when they started and now was almost unbelievable.
Swain had grown nearly as tall as Dragon, his muscles tightly packed beneath his fur.
His natural ferocity was unmatched, even compared to someone like Rob Lucci, who was known for his brutal killing instincts.
The difference between a predator born of nature and a predator created through training was clear, and Swain embodied the former perfectly.
Through Darius's guidance, Swain even learned how to stand upright at times, resembling the posture of a werewolf, and he could use his front legs like arms when fighting.
Darius called this his "feral stance," and he encouraged Swain to fight using both instinct and learned coordination.
Dragon, on the other hand, had grown much more capable in combat. He was no longer hesitant to strike when needed, and his attacks became precise and calculated.
Both he and Swain sparred with Darius almost every other day. Darius never held back completely, as he wanted them to adapt to real danger.
More often than not, both of them ended up lying flat on the ground after each spar, but they always got back up stronger than before.
In time, the people living in the Grey Terminal began to recognize them.
Dragon and Swain became somewhat infamous there, as the duo who carried massive piles of metal scraps without rest.
Some of the local thugs tried to rob them at first, but it never ended well for the attackers.
Swain, who had become more in touch with his predatory instincts, was ruthless in fights, treating every opponent as prey.
Darius didn't stop him. To him, this was the nature of the strong. Dragon, however, disagreed at first.
He didn't like killing unnecessarily, and he tried to stop Swain whenever he went too far.
But Darius made Dragon realize that there were times when mercy could become a weakness, and that the world outside their island would not be as forgiving as he was.
"Sometimes you have to do things you don't like, Dragon," Darius once told him after one such fight. "Because the world won't hesitate to hurt you just because you hesitate to hurt it."
After that, Dragon became quieter, more thoughtful, but also more serious in training. Swain remained loyal to both brothers, always following their lead.
Together, the three of them continued their routine in the Grey Terminal, growing stronger each day, preparing for a world that demanded strength above all else.
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"Alright, since both of you have gotten stronger, it's time to increase the challenge," Darius said calmly, his tone carrying that mix of seriousness and amusement that always made Dragon uneasy.
Dragon and Swain exchanged confused glances, unsure of what kind of "challenge" he meant this time. Before either could ask, Darius suddenly clenched his fist and punched the ground.
The impact caused a loud cracking sound as the earth split open, sending a faint tremor through the forest floor.
From the ruptured ground, Darius pulled out two massive chunks of solid earth, each nearly the size of a small boulder, and placed them in front of Dragon and Swain.
"What are we supposed to do with this, Ni-chan?" Dragon asked, tilting his head slightly as he looked between the boulder and his older brother. Swain, standing beside him, let out a questioning growl, clearly sharing the same confusion.
Darius pointed toward a cliff in the distance, its slope covered in uneven rocks and patches of dirt that would make climbing difficult even without any weight.
"See that cliff right there?" he said, waiting for the two to look in that direction before continuing.
"Both of you will take these pieces of earth and push them up to the top. Once you've reached the top, roll them back down, then go and do it again. You'll keep repeating this until I tell you to stop."
Dragon's jaw nearly dropped, while Swain tilted his head as if questioning whether he had heard correctly. The expression on both of their faces made Darius laugh quietly to himself.
"Come on, if you don't finish at least a hundred sets of this before lunch, then neither of you gets to eat," Darius added, his smile widening slightly.
The mention of food immediately changed their expressions. Both Dragon and Swain straightened their backs, suddenly filled with determination.
Darius' cooking was something they looked forward to every day.
Even Garp, who often took them to restaurants when he returned home, admitted that Darius' cooking was far better.
It wasn't just good food—it was a reward, something that made the pain of training worth it.
As soon as Darius gave the signal, both Dragon and Swain began pushing their respective chunks of earth. It didn't take long for them to realize just how difficult this task truly was.
The weight of the earth was immense, heavier than anything they had lifted or pulled before.
The slope made every step harder, the ground beneath their feet sliding slightly every time they tried to move forward.
Dragon gritted his teeth, his hands pressing hard against the rough surface of the earth as he tried to push it uphill.
Within minutes, sweat covered his entire body. Swain, on the other hand, used his body differently—Darius had tied a thick rope around the chunk of earth he gave to the wolf, and Swain pulled it with his entire weight, digging his claws into the dirt for traction.
Every pull strained his muscles, but his determination didn't waver.
At one point, Dragon almost stopped, feeling that it was impossible to move such a heavy object up that cliff.
But before he could give in, Darius' voice cut through the sound of his heavy breathing. "Don't overthink it. Just focus on pushing. Nothing else matters," Darius said firmly, his tone steady but encouraging.
Hearing that, Dragon took a deep breath and followed the advice. Step by step, inch by inch, he pushed the massive piece of earth upward.
It took what felt like hours, but he eventually reached the top. Swain followed soon after, dragging his boulder with a low growl of effort.
Once they both reached the top, they rolled the boulders down as instructed, and Darius simply pointed for them to start again.
While they repeated their grueling routine, Darius didn't just stand by idly. He used the time to train himself as well, perfecting his combat techniques with his axe.
The forest echoed with the rhythmic sound of his weapon slicing through the air, followed by the occasional sharp impact as he struck a nearby boulder to test the strength of his swings.
He wasn't just maintaining his strength—he was refining it.
Hours passed, and the sun began to rise higher in the sky. By the time Darius stopped his own training, both Dragon and Swain were lying flat on the ground, completely exhausted.
Their breathing was heavy, loud enough to echo faintly through the quiet forest.
Despite their exhaustion, both had managed to finish the full set of one hundred climbs. Seeing their effort made Darius smile.
He walked over and crouched beside them. "Good work, both of you," he said with a nod of approval. "You've earned your meal today."
He had already prepared food earlier that morning, anticipating that they would finish before noon.
The smell of freshly cooked meat filled the area, and both Dragon and Swain perked up immediately despite their fatigue.
That afternoon, Darius didn't allow them much rest. As soon as they finished eating, the next phase of training began.
The same routine continued, but this time, Darius added another element.
While Dragon and Swain pushed and pulled the heavy boulders once again, Darius began throwing rocks at them—just like Garp used to do when training him.
The rocks weren't meant to seriously injure, but they were large and fast enough to make them pay attention.
"This will help you stay alert while moving," Darius explained as he picked up another rock and hurled it toward them. "If you can't dodge while you're working, then you'll never be able to fight properly under pressure."
At first, both Dragon and Swain tried to complain, but Darius didn't let up. The rocks kept flying, forcing them to either dodge or get hit.
Dragon quickly realized that if he didn't move properly, he'd get a bruise or worse.
Swain's instincts, however, adapted faster. The wolf started leaping to the side or ducking instinctively, showing impressive reflexes that even surprised Darius.
Of course, Darius didn't spare himself either. Occasionally, he let a rock bounce off a tree and hit him lightly, showing that the training wasn't one-sided. "If I expect you two to endure it, I'll take it too," he said, laughing slightly as another rock grazed his shoulder.
By the time evening came, both Dragon and Swain were covered in dirt and small cuts, their bodies shaking from exhaustion, but their eyes were filled with determination.
Darius looked at them with quiet satisfaction. To him, this was more than training—it was shaping their spirit, preparing them for the kind of world they would soon face.