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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most influential figures in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Legends often do not capture the complete reality, even for the most influential characters.

The series's most recent flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' best arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the regime's accounts 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 Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring attitude that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that point toward the final island. However little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His love for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved version of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story told 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 actually meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the time jump, 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. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and events he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {