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The adage 'History is written by the victors' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

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

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the world's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at God Valley; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's approved version of events, the exact story Imu 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 topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in constant movement to prevent the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque forms, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {