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The saying 'History is written by the winners' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends frequently fail to convey the full truth, including the most influential figures in this world's complex past. Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they turned into icons — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When people discuss his legend, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's hidden past. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not present at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After facing Imu, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he endangered everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he couldn't do the same for his own grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government considers genocide and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The reality reveals something different. The instant Garp saw the Elders' monstrous forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the audience are seeing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, including perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {