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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of flags and followers.

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

Myths frequently do not convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's finest arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's secret past. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to conceal the truth 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 aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's last Poneglyph in constant movement to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

A further key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by the giant, including viewpoints and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {