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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Popular tales often fail to convey the full truth, including the most influential figures in this world's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

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

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' best storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they typically mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His love for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's account, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact story Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the land where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his will and liberty, turning into a marionette controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback recounted by the giant, including perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly exemplifies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {