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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a key theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends often fail to capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures in this story's complex history. Oden was no silly performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too quickly.

Legends often fail to capture the full truth, including the most influential figures.

The series's most recent flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's best arcs to now. Apart from the excitement of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand expedition in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His love for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the planet's hidden sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came 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, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the very story Imu authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, becoming a marionette controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the same for his own grandson. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley incident through a recollection recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can consider this version as completely truthful. The series may provide an explanation later, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the notion that history is written by the winners. This attitude is {