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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Legends often fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the series' best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they typically mean his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his downfall. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness compared to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The series may offer an explanation later, maybe linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {