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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's complex past. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Legends often do not convey the full reality, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley event, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to observe them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in God Valley, but maybe finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not present at God Valley; he was only repeating the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the very story the sovereign authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the land where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a marionette controlled to their authority. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an reason in the future, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the notion that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {