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The adage 'History is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently do not convey the full truth, including the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley story acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to capture the full reality, even for the most powerful characters.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's finest storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them before they turned into icons — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and retold through secondhand stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's secret past. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative Imu authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a kindness compared to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Defiance

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 Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, even it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The series may offer an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {