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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 for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not capture the full reality, including the most powerful characters in this world's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley story acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends often do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their reputation had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually refer to his later journey, the epic quest in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative Imu approved to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {