One Piece’s Elbaph Arc Is About to Turn Into All-Out War, & It’s Finally Time for Dragon to Make His Move

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Monkey D. Dragon, the son of the famous Marine hero Garp and father of Luffy, is a surprisingly mysterious character in the story so far. While fans know a little about him, there’s still a lot we don’t – but that might be changing soon. The current flashback to the God Valley Incident suggests Dragon will finally have a more significant role revealed.

I’ve noticed a lot of *One Piece* fans are drawing connections between the God Valley Incident and what’s happening in the Elbaph Arc right now, and it’s got people thinking Dragon might be about to reappear. If he does come back, it would really strengthen some of the most hopeful themes in *One Piece*, especially his fight for freedom against the World Government and the Revolutionary Army. But beyond that, I think it would emphasize the importance of family – something the Monkey family hasn’t really explored in a while, and feels like it’s time for.

One Piece Needs the Power of Family to Finish Dragon’s Story

Friendship has always been a central theme in *One Piece*, ever since the series began in the 1990s. The Straw Hat crew, in particular, exemplifies this with their close, family-like bond. This strong friendship is consistently shown through characters helping each other – like Mr. 2 assisting Luffy’s escape and Luffy saving Trafalgar Law. As *One Piece* moves into its final arc, while the power of friendship remains important, the series should also explore the significance of family bonds.

Strong family connections are uncommon in stories like *One Piece*, where characters like Luffy, Zoro, and Nami frequently lose or become separated from their families. Family can also represent the opposite of adventure – a reason to stay put, which clashes with Luffy’s desire to explore as a pirate. *One Piece* deliberately avoids giving Luffy close family ties like siblings or a mother, as that would hold him back. Instead, the story features figures who offer support in different ways. Monkey D. Garp shows his approval with words of encouragement, while Dragon demonstrates his support through actions.

Dragon saved his son during the storm in Loguetown, and this rescue might be why he’ll appear in the upcoming Elbaph Arc. During the flashback to the God Valley Incident, we saw Dragon demonstrate compassion, even as a Marine, by showing kindness to the wife and young son of a member of the Rocks Pirates. The last time readers saw him in the past, Dragon was carrying the baby brothers Shanks and Shamrock through the God Valley, acting almost like a father for a day. Dragon consistently protects those in need, both in the past and present, and it feels like it’s time for him to do so again. His appearance in the flashback has renewed fan interest in his character, and the story should capitalize on that by having Dragon demonstrate his commitment to family as Luffy faces his greatest challenge yet.

Monkey D. Dragon Remains One Piece’s Most Interesting Plot Device

When fans try to understand Dragon from *One Piece*, family connections are only part of the story. He’s shaping up to be a bit of a ‘tsundere’ – someone who seems cold and distant but secretly cares a lot, showing affection through actions rather than words. Unlike warm, openly affectionate anime dads like Isshin Kurosaki or Maes Hughes, Dragon expresses care both as a father figure and a hero. However, this approach sometimes makes him feel more like a tool to move the plot forward, and that’s not necessarily a criticism. His consistent behavior, both in the past and present, places him among the most consistently acted characters so far. Ultimately, Dragon’s role as a father to Luffy and his adopted brothers is just another way he functions as a key element of the story.

Dragon differs from the Straw Hat crew; he doesn’t need to be constantly present. He appears only when the story demands it, much like a more mature version of Shanks. Both Shanks and Dragon serve a narrative purpose: to move the plot forward and ensure Luffy’s survival. Dragon even helped Shanks in the past, influencing the circumstances that led to Shanks’ upbringing. Specifically, manga readers know Dragon is responsible for Shanks being separated from the Celestial Dragons and his brother, Shamrock, which ultimately allowed Shanks to become the independent pirate he is known as.

Dragon seems ready to repeat a pattern he established with his own son, regardless of their family ties. Having recently been shown helping children caught in a dangerous fight, it feels likely that Shanks will soon do the same for Luffy during the current battle. While the fight on Elbaph isn’t yet as massive as the God Valley Incident – it’s missing key figures like Jaygarcia Saturn and the Rocks and Roger pirates – it’s similar enough. It would be a fitting parallel for the story if Dragon were shown saving people during a chaotic battle, then for that same scenario to play out with Luffy being rescued by Shanks against Imu and the God Knights on Elbaph.

The Elbaph Arc is the Perfect Time For Dragon to Face Imu Again

Imu, the enigmatic leader of the World Government, has accumulated a number of powerful enemies throughout their reign. Fans of *One Piece* generally believe Luffy is Imu’s greatest rival, and with good reason – Luffy embodies both Joy Boy and Nika. However, Rocks D. Xebec is increasingly seen as another significant foe, essentially the Luffy of his time. Remarkably, Rocks was the only person to ever infiltrate Imu’s personal quarters and live to tell the tale. Now, many believe Dragon may soon become another of Imu’s most dangerous enemies.

It’s long been known that Dragon leads the Revolutionary Army, but the manga only recently started exploring this in detail. Fans have always suspected a major rivalry between Dragon and Imu, as leaders of opposing sides, but Dragon rarely directly confronted or spoke about his greatest enemies. Recent chapters of *One Piece* have changed that, revealing Dragon’s involvement in the God Valley Incident. There, he defied cruel orders, saved Shanks and Shamrock, and even showed kindness to members of the Davy Clan. Interestingly, Imu was also connected to the God Valley Incident, having possessed Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders before battling against Rocks, Edward Newgate, and Kaido.

We know Dragon survived a fight against Imu, and this suggests he’ll intervene in the current battle with the giants on Elbaph as well. This is the second time Imu has used a powerful follower – now Gunko of the God Knights – to fight, mirroring a past event. This pattern strongly hints that Dragon will appear to save someone from Imu, just as he seemingly did with Shanks or Luffy before. It seems Imu’s role is to be a powerful enemy who can be consistently thwarted by Dragon’s timely rescues.

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2025-10-20 00:47