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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends often do not convey the full truth, including the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the individuals too quickly.

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

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them before they became icons — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame found him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's approved version of occurrences, the very story Imu authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his kin resided, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired 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 occurrences he obviously was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {