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The adage 'History is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not capture the full truth, even for the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's game in search of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, advising audiences not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Myths often do not convey the full truth, including the most powerful characters.

The series's latest look back, detailing the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's gripping to observe them before they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the world's hidden sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the island where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he lost his will and freedom, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this account as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the notion that the past is written by the victors. This attitude is {