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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Popular tales often do not capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones signified more than a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Myths often fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential figures.

The series's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of buccaneering, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the epic quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. However little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even present at God Valley; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the timeskip, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Elders' monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback narrated by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this version as completely truthful. The series may provide an reason later, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {