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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most influential figures in this world's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Myths frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's most recent flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, 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 hearsay tales, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at God Valley; he was only repeating the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Defiance

Another protagonist of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how could Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government considers genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps connected to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {