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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales frequently do not convey the full reality, even for the most powerful characters in this world's intricate history. Oden wasn't a silly performer prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends often fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the series' best arcs to now. Apart from the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. History, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. Upon confronting Imu, he lost his will and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Garp serve the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this account as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {