Monkey D. Dragon’s Persistent Inactivity

The first appearance of Monkey D. Dragon in the manga and anime was as far back as the East Blue Saga, when he made a surprise visit to Loguetown just as the Straw Hat Pirates were about to depart for the Grand Line. While his debut was very eventful, as he managed to save Luffy from being executed by Buggy the Clown, he was not formally introduced by name until hundreds of chapters and episodes later, at the very end of the Water 7 Saga.

Moreover, Dragon’s notoriety and his stature among the Revolutionary Army that he commands, is likely in part due to his combat ability, especially since he is public enemy number one in the eyes of the World Government. While he has been rumored to possess some sort of weather manipulation ability based on his actions in Loguetown, the origin and true extent of his powers are still yet to be ascertained.

Since Loguetown, Dragon has done little in terms of making decisive moves against the World Government, with most of the work carried out by his subordinates. He was absent during the Summit War of Marineford, and did not participate in the Revolutionary Army’s missions in Dressrosa or in Mary Geoise at the time of the Levely. Although it makes sense for him to bide his time waiting for an opportunity to strike against the World Government, the current situation in Egghead does present a very compelling case for him to intervene.

What’s At Stake For Him On Egghead?

A headcount on the battlefield of Egghead Island will bring up more than enough figures connected to Dragon to warrant some form of interest from him. First and foremost among them is his own son Monkey D. Luffy, who is now an Emperor of the Sea. The fact that Dragon chose not to intervene when his son and his crew are facing the challenge of a Buster Call targeting their current location, is odd, but also something to be expected considering how Dragon has shown no desire to involve himself in Luffy’s journey.

Next, there is also a question regarding whether Dragon is aware of the death sentence that has been handed to Dr. Vegapunk for his work in researching the Void Century. In the past, Vegapunk and Dragon were friends who shared some level of mutual respect for one another. The loss of Vegapunk would be a huge blow to the world, and a major setback for those who seek to decode the true history of the world.

Finally, the late arrival of Bartholomew Kuma’s cyborg body on Egghead Island is another major reason for Dragon to take action, as his former subordinate journeyed there after wreaking havoc on Mary Geoise. The Revolutionary Army had been trying to recover Kuma’s body for quite some time until the Levely, and his sudden escape from their base on Momoiro Island struck them by surprise. Hence, it is quite surprising to see that Dragon seems to have no intention of pursuing him after all the trouble they went through to get him back from the World Nobles’ clutches.

Potential Reasons For Dragon’s Lack Of Action

Conversely, even though Dragon’s lack of decisive action in such a tense situation is concerning, to say the least, there are a few plausible explanations for why he has not yet chosen to dive into the battle on Egghead Island. For starters, Dragon and the Revolutionary Army may simply be unaware of the current state of affairs on the island of the future, since they are all the way back in Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line, with no real avenue to get consistent updates from Egghead in the New World.

Next, Dragon and his allies may still be reeling from Sabo’s report on what transpired at the Levely with respect to the death of Nefertari Cobra, and the revelations about the Five Elders and Imu. This was an earth-shattering development for the Revolutionary Army, since no one apart from the Five Elders had knowledge of Imu’s existence and powers, or their role as the secret ruler of the world. Such a piece of news is likely to have shaken them all to their very core, and they must be carefully plotting their next move in the face of such a terrifying threat.

How Could Dragon Impact The Rest Of The Final Saga?

Even though Dragon’s involvement in the Revolutionary Army’s activities has not been as visible as it should be in an ideal situation, there is no mistaking the fact that his troops are on the move, making bold advances against the Marines. The Revolutionary Army’s recent successful infiltration of the Levely attests to how close they are to mounting a more direct attack on the home of the Celestial Dragons, particularly since it is now known that Mary Geoise’s food storage is dwindling.

With the end of the Egghead Arc now in sight, it may not be too long before Dragon and his troops take on a more active role in the story of One Piece, since their offensive against the Marines and Celestial Dragons has not yet begun in earnest. It remains to be seen whether the Revolutionary Army’s activities will pick up pace during the upcoming Elbaf Arc or even later in the story, but it is certain that Dragon and his troops will be important allies for Luffy and his crew, as they move to tear down the tyranny of the World Government, ushering in a new dawn for the world.