One Piece chapter 1160 will surely go down as one of the darkest chapters in the series. It reveals the cruelty of the Celestial Dragons as they spread chaos across God Valley. Amid all the pain and suffering, a young Marine named Monkey D. Dragon bravely defies orders to help the innocent.
However, this chapter also reveals that another member of the Revolutionary Army deserves more credit for sparking the movement. Although many fans have seen this character as a minor figure, Oda has recently focused heavily on them to highlight their importance in the story. That character is Ivankov.
Dragon’s desperate search for hope
Most villains in One Piece have their own reasons for acting monstrously, but that doesn’t apply to the Celestial Dragons. The latest chapter shows them madly slaughtering innocent civilians on God Valley as a form of entertainment. Since the Marines are their loyal dogs, they are forced to join the massacre to prove their worth.
Still, Dragon quietly tries to save as many people as possible. He is deeply shaken by what he witnesses, especially when he stumbles upon a pile of corpses that nearly makes him vomit on the spot. Although Dragon manages to grab Shanks and Shamrock to keep them from getting caught in the chaos, it seems there’s no chance to escape, especially with Rocks and Roger landing on the island just minutes later.
Any ordinary Marine might give up after seeing all this. But since we know Dragon will become the leader of the Revolutionary Army in the future, it’s clear he won’t stop here. Just as he prepares to flee, he encounters a familiar face: Ivankov. It is Ivankov’s unyielding spirit that inspires Dragon to keep going against all odds.
Ivankov ignited the revolutionary flame
Up to this point, all Dragon has seen are bloodied corpses and civilians begging for mercy. But just as he’s about to lose hope, he witnesses something filled with promise. From afar, he sees a young Ivankov delivering an inspiring speech to Kuma, trying to convince him that they can still escape God Valley if they act smart. Dragon is surprised to see such hope and spirit in a child.
In a heroic move, Dragon uses a tranquilizer on a Celestial Dragon aiming at Kuma and Ivankov, ensuring they won’t become victims. The key point here is that Dragon acknowledges Ivankov and Kuma refused to give up, even though they were just children who had escaped slavery.
It was Ivankov who lit the fire inside Dragon, convincing him that surrender was not an option. This explains why Ivankov later became one of the highest-ranking officers in the Revolutionary Army.
So, while Dragon is the leader, the heart and spirit of the Revolutionary Army actually come from Ivankov, who is famous for their rebellious and courageous nature. This raises a big question: why didn’t Ivankov become the official leader of the group when they were the one who inspired Dragon to rise up in the first place?
Why didn’t Ivankov become the leader?
There are a few main reasons why Ivankov didn’t become the leader of the Revolutionary Army. First, age and experience: Ivankov was still a child during the God Valley incident. Dragon was old enough to be a Marine and had much more experience.
Second, Dragon used to be a Marine, and having someone who once served the World Government lead a revolutionary force makes the army more notorious and noticeable. A man who witnessed the cruelty of the Marines and Celestial Dragons firsthand then decided to rebel. That heroic message would be harder to inspire if Ivankov was the campaign’s leader.
The final reason is that although Ivankov’s Devil Fruit powers are very useful, they are more supportive than offensive. In contrast, Dragon is believed to possess an extremely powerful ability, making him a more formidable warrior suited for the leader role.