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The adage 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most influential characters in this world's intricate past. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths often do not convey the full reality, including the most influential characters.

The series's latest look back, detailing the God Valley event, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his second voyage, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue 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 were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative Imu authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his downfall. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a mercy compared to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, knowing the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback narrated by the giant, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I believe we can treat this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an reason in the future, maybe connected to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event perfectly embodies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {