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The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not convey the complete reality, including the most powerful figures in this world's complex past. Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's best arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the epic quest in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the exact story the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what little consciousness is left, he begs with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant movement to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as sport for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as completely truthful. The series may provide an reason later, perhaps connected to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {