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The adage 'History is written by the winners' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the full reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends often do not capture the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' finest storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see 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 secondhand stories, painted our understanding of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When people discuss his legend, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of events, the very narrative Imu approved to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's last ancient stone in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by Loki, including perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The series may provide an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the notion that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {