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The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends frequently do not convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to capture the full truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as written by the World Government and retold through secondhand stories, shaped our understanding of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a new age of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they usually mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet 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 globe's secret history. His love for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's version, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the exact story Imu approved to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the land where his kin resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the readers are viewing the God Valley incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event perfectly embodies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {