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The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' is a key theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Oden wasn't a silly showman prancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's contest in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures.

One Piece's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' best storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they became icons — when their fame had yet to outgrow their humanity. History, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When people speak of his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's account, both to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the very narrative the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little consciousness is left, he pleads with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Garp work for the Marines, knowing the World Government treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, even it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The series may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the notion that the past is written by the victors. This attitude is {