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The adage 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales often do not capture the full truth, even for the most powerful figures in this world's complex history. Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire God Valley story acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's finest storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing icons in their prime, it's gripping to see them before they became icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but before he became 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 second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story the sovereign approved to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the island where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp serve the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and events he clearly was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {