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The saying 'History is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the full reality, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish performer prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's game in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently do not convey the complete truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to fame discovered him.

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

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, 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 transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative Imu authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the land where his kin lived, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he lost his will and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last Poneglyph in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality reveals something different. The instant Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with 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 all in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the victors. This attitude is {