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The adage 'The past is recorded by the winners' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a foolish showman prancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this theme. The whole Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Legends often do not capture the full reality, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to outgrow their humanity. History, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our understanding of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event 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 corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the torment 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 favorable manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last Poneglyph in constant movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp serve the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may provide an reason later, perhaps linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the idea that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {