Many Fans Are Criticizing Harald For Submitting To The Marines Instead Of Helping Rocks In God Valley
The latest chapter of One Piece’s God Valley flashback has ignited a new wave of backlash in the fandom — this time aimed squarely at Harald. Once seen as a proud and fearsome warrior, Harald has come under fire after the story revealed that, in the middle of the God Valley Incident, he chose to submit to the Marines rather than stand his ground and support Rocks D. Xebec. For many readers, that moment didn’t just mark a turning point in the battle — it shattered their image of what Harald was supposed to represent.
In a storyline packed with legends, betrayals, and world-shaping decisions, Harald’s choice has quickly become one of the most controversial beats in the entire flashback. Fans are now debating whether his submission was an understandable act of survival or a cowardly betrayal that clashes with everything they expected from a warrior of his stature.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history, and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the enigmatic Imu — creating a flashback that feels more like a grand historical epic than a side story.
The arc dives deep into the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece, revealing long-hidden secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy. For many, it’s a rare glimpse into the “true history” of the world, something fans have been waiting for since the manga’s earliest chapters.
Because of how important this flashback feels, every character choice — especially one as drastic as Harald kneeling to the Marines — lands with amplified weight. It doesn’t just affect Harald; it colors the entire way fans view the factions and alliances at God Valley.
“Harald Folded” – Why Fans Are So Upset
The heart of the criticism is simple: many fans believed Harald would stand firm against the World Government and the Marines, no matter how hopeless things looked. Whether they saw him as a brutal ally, a rival to Rocks, or a proud warrior tied to a larger culture of strength and honor, they expected defiance — not surrender.
Once the chapter showed Harald submitting instead of helping Rocks, social media lit up with reactions like:
- “Harald folded faster than anyone in this arc — how is this the guy we were hyped for?”
- “You can say what you want about Rocks, but watching Harald side with the Marines instead of fighting to the end felt wrong.”
- “If you’re at God Valley and you choose the Celestial Dragons’ side, that says everything about you.”
For these readers, the issue isn’t just that Harald didn’t save Rocks — it’s who he chose to obey. Aligning with the Marines and, by extension, the Celestial Dragons during one of the most morally rotten events in history feels, to many, like an unforgivable stain on his character.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its dark tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations.
While Luffy and his crew are the heart of the series, the God Valley storyline offers something entirely different: a look at the legends and events that shaped everything we know. One fan summed it up best on X (formerly Twitter):
“If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.”
That “dream” is exactly why Harald’s actions are under such a sharp microscope. When an arc is this gripping, readers expect every decision to be meaningful and coherent with the character’s image. Harald’s submission doesn’t just feel like a tactical move in battle — it feels like a statement about who he truly is.
Was Harald Wrong… Or Just Human?
Not everyone is condemning Harald, though. A segment of the fandom is pushing back against the harsh criticism, arguing that his decision reflects the terrifying reality of God Valley rather than lazy writing or character assassination.
From that perspective, Harald’s choice can be seen as:
- A survival instinct – Faced with overwhelming power from both the Marines and the Rocks crew, plus the looming presence of the Celestial Dragons and Imu, Harald may have realized the battle was already lost and chose to live rather than die in a pointless stand.
- A political calculation – Some fans speculate that Harald might have been protecting his own people, land, or future position by cooperating, trading his honor in that moment for a longer-term strategic benefit.
- A moral rejection of Rocks – Others believe that by the time of God Valley, Harald no longer believed in Rocks’ vision, seeing it as too destructive or chaotic, and decided that siding with the Marines — however flawed — was the lesser of two evils.
These readers argue that One Piece has always excelled when it blurs the line between “heroic” and “cowardly,” forcing fans to question what they would really do in the same impossible situation.
Harald, Warriors, and Broken Expectations
A big part of the outrage stems from what Harald symbolized in fan headcanon before the chapter dropped. Given his design, demeanor, and implied strength, many readers mentally grouped him with the proud, battle-loving warrior archetype that One Piece has explored through characters like the giants of Elbaf or Wano’s samurai. Those characters often equate surrender with shame — they fight to the end, no matter what.
Watching Harald do the opposite created a sense of whiplash. The character some expected to embody unshakable pride instead became an example of compromise under pressure. For fans who cherish One Piece’s “die standing” moments, this felt like a betrayal of that spirit.
At the same time, others point out that this twist might be intentional. If Harald represents a warrior who failed to live up to that ideal, then his legacy could become a dark mirror to characters who later choose a different path — the kind of thematic contrast Oda loves to build across arcs and generations.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
The enthusiasm surrounding the God Valley flashback underscores Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he continues to surprise fans by revealing layers of history that connect generations of pirates, marines, and rulers. The arc’s pacing, emotion, and scope have reminded readers of One Piece’s golden era — a blend of mystery, world-building, and drama that few series can match.
Even as some fans fear that returning to the Straw Hats will slow the story’s momentum, others believe this balance between past and present is what makes One Piece timeless. Whether the flashback ends soon or continues, the God Valley saga has already cemented itself as one of the most powerful and defining chapters in the series’ history.
Harald’s Legacy: Coward, Survivor, or Tragic Figure?
Ultimately, the debate over Harald’s submission to the Marines reflects one of One Piece’s core strengths: its ability to make even side characters feel important and morally complicated.
To some, Harald will now forever be “the warrior who knelt when it mattered most.” To others, he’s a grim reminder that not everyone in this world is built to defy the system — that some people, even powerful ones, break under the weight of impossible choices.
Whether future chapters redeem him, further condemn him, or leave his actions as a bitter piece of history, one thing is certain: Harald’s moment at God Valley has carved out a controversial place for him in the fandom’s memory, and the arguments around his choice are likely to continue long after the flashback ends.
