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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends frequently do not convey the complete reality, even for the most influential figures in this story's complex past. Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the complete truth, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they became icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his will and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's last ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandson. Similar questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Garp work for the Marines, knowing the Global Authority considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley incident through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as completely accurate. The series may provide an reason in the future, maybe linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the idea that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {