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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Legends frequently do not capture the full reality, including the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

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

One Piece's most recent flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' best storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was only repeating the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story Imu approved 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 World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant movement to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured backlash 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 endangered all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp work for the Marines, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, even it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as completely accurate. The series may offer an reason in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the idea that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {