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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to convey the complete reality, including the most powerful characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they became icons — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the planet's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about everything happening in God Valley, but maybe discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very narrative Imu authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the land where his family resided, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a marionette controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The series may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {