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The saying 'History is recorded by the winners' serves as a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends often fail to convey the full reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's complex past. Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's game in search of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley event, represents one of the series' best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of witnessing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually refer to his later journey, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the world and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's account, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative Imu authorized to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he lost his determination and liberty, becoming a marionette controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last Poneglyph in constant movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by the giant, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as entirely accurate. The series may provide an explanation in the future, maybe connected to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the notion that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {