Few incidents in the entire chronology of One Piece had a bigger impact on this fictional world than the God Valley Incident. In the present day, events such as the battle at Marineford and the twin downfalls of Kaido and Big Mom at Onigashima rocked the world. But even those historic events are tame when One Piece fans compare them to the chaos and cruelty that defined the God Valley Incident.
For years, the details of this ghastly event remained shrouded in mystery, but now, fans know the names of all major players there and their schemes. This incident started as an example of the World Government's twisted colonial attitude about the world, only to devolve into a destructive free-for-all as the world's strongest pirates and Marines collided. From this incident arose the origins of Bartholomew Kuma, Monkey D. Dragon, and Captain Blackbeard, along with the downfall of a certain Rocks D. Xebec.
Figarland Garling Launched the Native Hunting Competition to Attack the Davy Clan
The Entire God Valley Incident Was Just a Bloody Excuse to Destroy Imu's Enemies
The most important part of any major incident in shonen anime is why it happened at all. In the case of the God Valley Incident, the intention was not to fight the world's toughest pirates at the time to prove the Navy's dominance, but to assassinate Imu's worst enemies. Being the World Government's head, Imu has many foes, including those who bear the Will of D., as well as the entire Davy clan. This means some people are born as Imu's natural enemies, such as the Davy clan's members, making even the most innocent people a target in Imu's eyes. So, Figarland Garling of the God Knights decided to take action.
Garling discovered the God Valley island and noted its bountiful natural resources, along with the presence of the Davy clan. That was the genesis of the Native Hunting Competition and the incident that followed, with Marines rounding up the locals with tranquilizer rounds to prep them as "rabbits." This cruel sport served to punish the people of God Valley for refusing to join the World Government, not to mention destroy the Davy clan and claim God Valley's natural bounty for Imu's own use. Notably, this competition had prizes on the line, including impressive Devil Fruits such as the Paw-Paw Fruit, the Fish-Fish Fruit's Azure Dragon model, and evidently, the Horm-Horm Fruit as well. Those rank among the most powerful Devil Fruits in the entire God Valley Incident.
Kuma and Ivankov Escaped the God Valley Incident as Future Heroes
Kuma and Ivankov Raided the Devil Fruits to Secure Their Freedom
Many parties took part in the God Valley Incident, whether they wanted to or not, and not of all them were powerhouses. Future heroes such as Bartholomew Kuma, Ginny, and Emporio Ivankov ended up there, with those three being young targets of the Celestial Dragon's wrath. Through sheer willpower, luck, and the discovery of some Devil Fruit prizes, those three youngsters made it out of the God Valley Incident alive, and it changed them.
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All three were inspired to resist the World Government's tyranny and the mighty Navy in light of what they saw at that island, though it would take time for Kuma to grow into that role. Kuma had all but given up on his own survival and future, only for Ginny's and Ivankov's boundless grit and optimism to awaken the fighter in him. Kuma ate the Paw-Paw Fruit while Ivankov acquired the Horm-Horm Fruit, and then the three young heroes made their escape. In a twist of fate, though, Kuma would eventually become a pawn of the World Government once again after allowing Dr. Vegapunk the scientist to turn him into a living weapon in exchange for Bonney's cure.
Shanks, Shamrock, and Blackbeard Needed Rescue at God Valley
Dragon Rescued Three Children Who Would Help Make History
Kuma, Ginny, and Ivankov weren't the only children who survive the God Valley Incident. The toddler Marshall D. Teech was there too, a member of the Davy clan who didn't understand why the Marines and Celestial Dragons wanted him and his mother dead. Unlike the current Captain Blackbeard, the young Teech was totally vulnerable, and would have died if it weren't for Monkey D. Dragon the teenage Marine's kindness. Dragon listened when Teech's mother implored him for aid, meaning Dragon proved himself a noble hero while also ensuring Teech could grow up into a dreadful villain as one of the four Emperors.
Find all 10 pairs
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The twin baby brothers Shanks and Shamrock owe their lives to Dragon as well. Their own father, Figarland Garling, thought little of them or their native mother, but Dragon felt differently. Dragon made sure the brothers were evacuated safely as the world's strongest pirates and Marines clashed, with the baby brothers experiencing radically different lives after that. Years later, Shamrock would follow in his father's footsteps as a member of the God Knights, while Shanks rejected that life in favor of freedom as a pirate and Emperor.
Rocks, Roger, and Garp Had an Epic Showdown at God Valley
After That, God Valley Was Destroyed Altogether
The dreadful God Valley Incident was partly the tale of youngsters miraculously escaping their fate, and partly the story of the World Government attacking its natural enemies with no remorse. The incident reached its explosive climax when the three strongest parties came crashing together, featuring some of the strongest fighters in the entire event. The famed Rocks D. Xebec, captain of the Rocks Pirates, rushed to God Valley once the truth of the Native Hunting Competition was leaked. Rocks was determined to save his wife and son there, with that being his most noble and final mission as a pirate commander. That put him on a collision course with both the Roger Pirates and the Navy.
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The resulting battle was sheer chaos, from Kaido swiping the Fish-Fish Fruit from Big Mom to Shiki and Captain John getting some much-needed screen time as notable Rocks Pirates crewmates. Above all, the God Valley Incident featured the tragedy of Imu taking command of Saturn's body before using Domi Reversi on Rocks himself. Such a move is symbolic of Imu's evil nature and their habit of commanding others as a supreme leader, even converting enemies into loyal minions. That was why Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp, who were enemies on paper, teamed up to defeat Rocks once and for all.
Rocks fell, and that led to the dissolution of his entire crew as his era came to a close. Garp became the hero of the Marines thanks to his actions, while Roger escaped with his crew, including Scopper Gaban, his left hand. Imu, meanwhile, wasn't satisfied with this outcome and ordered the utter annihilation of God Valley to conclude this messy affair. The island and all knowledge of it were wiped out, a gruesome example of the World Government's willingness to do anything whatsoever to maintain its power and protect its secrets. To this day, the people of One Piece's world know rather little about the God Valley Incident aside from Garp's role in it, but the likes of Dragon know the truth, and that's what drives them so hard to overthrow Imu's rule at last.
One Piece
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
- Number of Episodes
- 1122
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.72
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
