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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the complete truth, including the most influential characters in this world's intricate history. Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a warning story, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures.

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones 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 globe's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the island where his family resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Garp serve the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely truthful. The manga may provide an reason in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {