One Piece: Oda Finally Reveals Why Dragon Left the Marines

One Piece’s Elbaf arc has seen the Straw Hat Pirates continue their grand adventure in the land of the Giants, and it goes without saying that it’s been absolutely incredible so far. Elbaf has been filled with surprises and unexpected events. Going into Elbaf, hardly any fans expected to see Oda fully delve into God Valley through the Loki flashback. God Valley spanned over a few chapters, and now, it reached its conclusion with the death of Rocks D. Xebec and the sinking of the island.

God Valley was absolutely massive for many characters of the One Piece world, and that also includes Money D. Dragon. The son of Navy Hero Garp, Dragon played a key role in God Valley and was one of the few Marines to try to do what’s right. God Valley exposed Dragon to the barbarity of the World Government, and even doing the right thing led to him being imprisoned. This was the catalyst for his eventual departure from the Navy and the creation of the Freedom Fighters.

Monkey D. Dragon Left the Marines After Being Imprisoned For Saving Lives

monkey d dragon left the marines after god valley one pieceImage by Manga Plus

Almost 3 decades into the One Piece series, Monkey D. Dragon is still one of the most mysterious characters of the series. The only thing fans truly know about this man is that he is at the head of the Revolutionary Army, and that he has blood ties to both Garp and Luffy.

Beyond that, not much is known about him, such as his Devil Fruit abilities, his bounty, or his early life. Thankfully, God Valley provided great insight into a part of his life. Fans saw how, among corrupt Marines, Dragon was the only one to really want to help the slaves and children in God Valley.

Unfortunately, this selflessness and humanity got him in trouble with the Marines and the World Government, and he paid the price. Following the end of the events of God Valley, Monkey D. Dragon was imprisoned. He was kept in an underground detention center in the Marine Headquarters for disobedience.

Thankfully for Dragon, however, he was soon freed by his father, Monkey D. Garp. After being released, Dragon would go on to leave the Marines.

Monkey D. Dragon’s Experience on God Valley Changed Him

Saint Maffey stealing shamrock from dragon God valleyImage by Viz Media

Monkey D. Dragon was a wholly changed person after witnessing what happened on God Valley. The World Government, and in turn, the Marines, were not the good guys. The World Government was hunting down slaves and harming innocents and children.

Monkey D. Dragon even saw a dying mother asking him to protect her children, and all that definitely impacted him. Furthermore, being sent to prison for doing the right thing did help push him away from the Navy.

Dragon’s relationship with the Marines, as well as Garp, broke down after these events, and he went on to create a world where true justice and equality exist.

Monkey D. Dragon Created The Freedom Fighters After God Valley

monkey d dragon created the revolutionary army and freedom Fighters one pieceImage by Toei Animation

What exactly Dragon did after the events of the God Valley Incident isn’t known. However, it’s fair to assume that, not long after leaving the Marines, he ended up starting the resistance group that fans famously knew as the Freedom Fighters, and they operated against the World Government. Until 22 years ago in the One Piece story, he was still a Freedom Fighter, as seen through the Vegapunk flashback.

Dragon Eventually Founded The Revolutionary Army

The Freedom Fighters is the group that would birth Dragon’s current organization, the Revolutionary Army. The exact year of its creation isn’t clear, but it was about 21 years ago, after Dragon met Kuma.

The Revolutionary Army is currently the biggest threat faced by the World Government. Just recently, they led an attack on Marijoa to free Kuma.

Fans can’t wait to see Dragon and the Revolutionary Army’s true potential in One Piece. It is only a matter of time before Oda shifts the focus to them once again, as Marijoa is already under attack, and Dragon is likely at the center of it all.