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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends often fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' best arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the World Government and retold through secondhand stories, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and seek the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely repeating the World Government's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the exact story the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar questions have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in God Valley, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The series may provide an explanation in the future, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {