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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

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

Legends frequently do not capture the full truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's most recent flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they became icons — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His love for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat 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 events, the very story Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks really 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 ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never 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 recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The series may offer an reason in the future, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {