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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' serves as a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this world's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Myths often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's finest arcs to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became icons — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they typically mean his second voyage, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. However little is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the exact story the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. Upon confronting Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into 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 mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to save Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his own grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous forms, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an reason in the future, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {