One Piece: Oda Finally Reveals Why Dragon Left the Marines

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This article contains spoilers for the One Piece series.

The Elbaf arc of One Piece has been a fantastic continuation of the Straw Hat Pirates’ journey to the land of the Giants. It’s been packed with surprises, and many fans didn’t anticipate the deep dive into the history of God Valley through the Loki flashback. That flashback recently concluded with the death of Rocks D. Xebec and the destruction of God Valley island.

God Valley was a significant event for many characters in the world of One Piece, including Monkey D. Dragon. As the son of Navy Hero Garp, Dragon played an important part in what happened there and was one of the few Marines who tried to stand up for what was right. What he witnessed at God Valley revealed the harsh realities of the World Government, and even though he was doing the right thing, he was ultimately imprisoned. This experience led him to leave the Navy and eventually form the Freedom Fighters.

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

Image by Manga Plus

Even after nearly 30 years of the One Piece series, Monkey D. Dragon remains one of its biggest mysteries. All fans really know about him is that he leads the Revolutionary Army and is related to both Garp and Luffy.

Very little is known about Dragon beyond a few basic facts, including what powers he has, the size of his bounty, or his past. However, the events at God Valley revealed a significant part of his history. We saw that, unlike the other Marines present, Dragon was the only one truly concerned with helping the slaves and children there.

Dragon’s kindness and compassion ultimately led to conflict with both the Marines and the World Government, and he suffered the consequences. After the battles at God Valley, he was arrested and held captive in a secret underground prison within Marine Headquarters for refusing to comply with their orders.

Fortunately for Dragon, his father, Monkey D. Garp, quickly rescued him. After his release, Dragon left the Marines.

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

Image by Viz Media

After seeing the events at God Valley, Monkey D. Dragon underwent a significant transformation. He realized the World Government – and its military force, the Marines – weren’t the heroes they appeared to be. He discovered the World Government was actually responsible for hunting down slaves and hurting innocent people, including children.

Witnessing a dying woman plead for her children’s safety deeply affected Monkey D. Dragon. Additionally, his unjust imprisonment for acting with integrity further solidified his decision to distance himself from the Navy.

Following these incidents, Dragon lost faith in the Marines and his relationship with Garp deteriorated. This led him to dedicate himself to building a world founded on genuine justice and fairness for all.

Monkey D. Dragon Created The Freedom Fighters After God Valley

Image by Toei Animation

It’s unclear what Dragon did immediately following the God Valley Incident, but it’s likely he soon formed the group known as the Freedom Fighters to oppose the World Government. The Vegapunk flashback confirms he was still leading the Freedom Fighters 22 years ago in the One Piece timeline.

Dragon Eventually Founded The Revolutionary Army

I’m fascinated by the origins of the Revolutionary Army! It all started with a group called the Freedom Fighters – that’s where Dragon’s organization really took shape. While we don’t know the exact year, it was roughly 21 years ago, not long after Dragon first crossed paths with Kuma. It’s amazing to think about how that meeting sparked everything!

Honestly, the Revolutionary Army is keeping the World Government really on edge right now – they’re the biggest problem they’re dealing with! It’s incredible, but they actually launched a full-on attack on Marijoa recently, all to free Kuma. It just shows how serious they are and how far they’re willing to go.

One Piece fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the full power of Dragon and the Revolutionary Army. With Marijoa currently under attack, and Dragon likely playing a key role, it won’t be long before the story focuses on them again.

The newest chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, Chapter 1166, will be available in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It officially releases on November 23, 2025. In Japan, it will be released at midnight on Monday, which translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read it for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app.

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2025-11-22 02:34