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The saying 'History is written by the victors' serves as a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the full truth, including the most influential figures in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no foolish performer dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to judge the characters too hastily.

Myths often fail to capture the complete reality, including the most powerful figures.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. However little is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence 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 make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu authorized to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought 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 wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp serve the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are seeing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The series may provide an reason in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {