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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not convey the complete reality, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this theme. The whole God Valley story acts as a warning story, advising audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths often fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the story's best arcs to now. Apart from the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became icons — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to fame found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's secret past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a kindness compared to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to defeat 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 the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the cause Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past'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 consider this account as completely accurate. The series may provide an explanation later, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently embodies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This attitude is {