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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' serves as a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not convey the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently do not capture the complete truth, including the most influential characters.

The series's most recent look back, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' finest arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who knew them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden past. His love for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to young Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's approved version of events, the very story Imu authorized to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to annihilate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his will and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, knowing the World Government considers genocide and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can consider this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {