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The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' is a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends often do not convey the complete reality, even for the most influential characters in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's game in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most powerful figures.

The series's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley event, represents one of the story's best storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to young Marines. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at God Valley; he was only repeating the Global Authority's approved version of occurrences, the very story the sovereign 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 sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives became his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he lost his will and liberty, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last Poneglyph in continuous movement to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how could Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this account as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, maybe connected to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the idea that history is written by the winners. This attitude is {