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The adage 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they usually mean his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret history. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the island where his family resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he lost his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a favorable light during the God Valley events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The series may offer an reason later, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {