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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' serves as a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the complete reality, including the most powerful characters in this world's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

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

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best arcs to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his will and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved 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 endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in God Valley, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and events he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The series may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {