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The adage 'History is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends often do not capture the full reality, even for the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in search of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's most recent flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their prime, it's gripping to observe them before they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his legend, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at God Valley; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the land where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks really meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as completely accurate. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the notion that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {