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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales frequently do not convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently do not convey the full reality, including the most influential figures.

The series's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's finest arcs to now. Beyond the excitement of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them before they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the bold spirit that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in God Valley, but maybe discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's sanctioned narrative of events, the exact story Imu authorized to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the land where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a marionette controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a kindness 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 favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An interesting idea is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment 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 couldn't do the same for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in God Valley, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley event perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {