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The adage 'History is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most influential characters in this story's complex history. Oden wasn't a silly showman prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

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

The series's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his legend, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything happening in God Valley, but maybe discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

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 version, both to the audience and to young Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved version of events, the very story Imu authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he endangered everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, even it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation later, maybe linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident perfectly exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {