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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales frequently do not capture the full truth, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer prancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths often fail to convey the full reality, including the most influential characters.

The series's latest look back, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they became icons — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's accounts and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the globe and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. After confronting Imu, he lost his will and liberty, becoming a marionette controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness compared to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation later, maybe linked to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event perfectly embodies the notion that the past is written by the victors. This attitude is {