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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales often do not capture the full truth, even for the most powerful characters in this story's complex history. Oden was no foolish performer prancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they became icons — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the world's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted 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 turns out, Sengoku was not present at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he lost his determination and liberty, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what little awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing theory 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 Poneglyph in continuous transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Garp work for the Marines, aware the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident excellently exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {