Despite being the protagonist’s father and a crucial figure in the series, Monkey D. Dragon still remains one of the most mysterious characters in One Piece. Ever since his introduction at Logue Town, Dragon has been making his moves in the shadows, though it wasn’t unti very recently that fans finally saw his grand plan begin to take shape in the form of the Revolutionary Army’s siege against Mariejois. Having said that, while Dragon and the Revolutionary Army’s goal is clear enough, fans still know precious little about Dragon’s motivations, or rather what spurred him into leaving behind the Navy and becoming One Piece’s infamous “Worst Criminal.”
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Fortunately, Chapter 1159 has finally given fans some answers about Luffy’s father, even revealing what likely radicalized him against the World Government, and surprisingly enough, it’s the God Valley Incident. In the latest chapter, fans are are taken back to the God Valley Incident, this time from multiple new perspectives, including that of a young, Monkey D. Dragon, who is revealed to have been present on the island 38 years ago during the Celestial Dragons’ heinous Native Hunting Competition. Dragon, who was only a rookie Marine at the time is seen questioning his orders and is even reluctant to harm the civilians of God Valley, who are innocent in his eyes, and the cruelty Dragon went on to witness at God Valley is very likely what led him on the path of revolution against the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
One Piece Reveals Luffy’s Father Was Present at God Valley
For years, fans have theorized that Dragon was formerly a Marine and perhaps turned against the World Government and the Navy after some kind of personal tragedy. The former theory was finally confirmed during the Egghead Arc, and it seems like the Elbaf Arc has now finally cleared up the latter, with the God Valley Incident arguably being a much stronger explanation. Even during Kuma’s flashback, the cruel, inhumane nature of the Celestial Dragons’ hunting competition came as quite a shock to fans, and it’s no surprise that this incident had such a profound impact on Dragon who would have been only about 17 years old at the time.
In fact, in Chapter 1159, fans even see Dragon struggling to carry out the orders he’s been given, rationalizing shooting the citizens of God Valley with the excuse that they’re just tranquilizers and that he isn’t really killing anyone. However, his discomfort is clear as day, especially as he hears the Navy bringing out the tear gas. At the end of Chapter 1159, One Piece also sees Dragon encounter Shanks and Shamrock’s dying mother who begs him to save her children from the impending slaughter, which might just be what ended up pushing Dragon off the edge.
Much like how the Buster Call caused Kuzan to waver, the God Valley Incident is very likely what caused Dragon to question the justice of the World Government and the Navy. In Vegapunk’s flahsback to Ohara, Dragon even outright states that he left the Navy because he “found no justice there” and this statement makes a lot more sense now. Dragon;s experienece at God Valley would have been a very visceral one for Dragon, especially with all the atrocities he would have witnessed and how young he was at the time and it explains a lot about character and his actions so far.
One Piece’s New God Valley Reveal Could Explain Countless Dragon Mysteries
Dragon being at God Valley also explains many other mysteries such as how he knew about the existence of the Holy Knights, who, until then, had only been mentioned in passing by Akainu. But of course, it makes sense that Dragon knew about their existence if he was present at God Valley alongside the Holy Knights. This would also effectively explain how Dragon had so much intel on the elite guard despite his supposed short time in the Navy.
Besides this, a popular fan theory also suggests that Dragon may have found his devil fruit at God Valley. Dragon has been suspected of wielding a weather-related devil fruit ever since his first appearance at Logue Town, and maybe the God Valley flashback could clarify this as well. All that said, it seems like Dragon is going to play a crucial role in shaping Shanks and Shamrock’s fate going forward, making the upcoming chapter of One Piece one to look forward to, especially for fans of Luffy’s ever-mysteriosu father.
One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus and Viz Media.
Do you think the God Valley Incident inspired Dragon’s revolution against the World Government? Tell us in the comments below!
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image courtesy of 20th Century Studios -
Image courtesy of 2th Century Studios
