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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a key theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales often fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful characters in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones meant more than a buccaneer's game in search of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters.

The series's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became symbols — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his family resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After facing the sovereign, he lost his will and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment 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 identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, aware the World Government considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as completely accurate. The series may provide an reason later, perhaps connected to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {