One Piece is currently in the Elbaf arc, where the Straw Hat Pirates continue their grand adventure in the land of the Giants. This arc is packed with surprises and unexpected events. Few fans anticipated that Oda would fully explore God Valley through Loki’s flashbacks. The God Valley storyline spans several chapters and now reaches its climax with the death of Rocks D. Xebec and the island’s sinking.
The God Valley incident holds great significance for many One Piece characters, including Monkey D. Dragon. As the son of Marine hero Garp, Dragon played a key role at God Valley and was one of the few Marines who truly tried to do the right thing. God Valley exposed Dragon to the World Government’s cruelty and showed him that even doing the right thing could lead to imprisonment. This became the catalyst for him leaving the Marines to become a free warrior.
Monkey D. Dragon Left the Marines After Being Imprisoned for Saving Others
Nearly three decades since One Piece debuted, Monkey D. Dragon remains one of the series’ most mysterious characters. The only things fans truly know about him are that he leads the Revolutionary Army and is related to both Garp and Luffy.
Beyond that, little is known about his Devil Fruit powers, bounty, or early life. Fortunately, God Valley offers valuable insight into a part of his past. Among the Marines, Dragon stood out as the only one genuinely committed to justice, trying to help slaves and children trapped at God Valley.
Sadly, his selflessness and compassion caused trouble with the Marines and the World Government, forcing him to pay a heavy price. After the God Valley incident, Monkey D. Dragon was imprisoned. He was held in an underground Marine detention center for disobeying orders.
Luckily for Dragon, his father Monkey D. Garp soon freed him. After his release, Dragon decided to leave the Marines.
God Valley Experience Completely Changed Monkey D. Dragon
Monkey D. Dragon became a very different person after witnessing what happened at God Valley. He realized that neither the World Government nor the Marines were the good guys. The World Government hunted slaves and harmed innocent people, including children.
Dragon even saw a dying mother begging him to protect her children, which deeply affected him. Moreover, being imprisoned just for doing the right thing pushed him away from the Marines.
His relationship with the Marines, and even with Garp, fractured after these events. He resolved to create a world where true justice and equality exist.
From Free Warrior to Revolutionary Army Leader
It’s unclear exactly what Dragon did immediately after the God Valley incident. However, it’s likely that soon after leaving the Marines, he formed the resistance group known as the Free Warriors, who opposed the World Government. Up until 22 years ago in the One Piece timeline, he was still a Free Warrior, as seen in Vegapunk’s flashbacks.
The Free Warriors eventually evolved into Dragon’s current organization, the Revolutionary Army. While the exact founding year is unknown, this likely happened about 21 years ago, shortly after Dragon met Kuma.
The Revolutionary Army is now the greatest threat to the World Government. Recently, they led an assault on Marijoa to free Kuma.
Fans are eager to see Dragon’s true potential and the Revolutionary Army’s role in One Piece. With the story shifting focus to them, especially after the attack on Marijoa, Dragon is likely at the center of it all.