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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends frequently fail to capture the full reality, including the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; 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 the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became icons — when their fame had yet to outgrow their human nature. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's last ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection recounted by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {