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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this world's complex past. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths often do not capture the full truth, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory found him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the world's hidden past. His love for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, both to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the regime's scheme to annihilate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family became his downfall. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing idea is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely truthful. The series may provide an explanation later, maybe linked to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley incident excellently exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {