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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' is a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful figures in this world's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently do not convey the full reality, even for the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they became symbols — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand stories, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold attitude that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His affection for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not present at God Valley; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of events, the very narrative Imu approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true 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, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the government's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something different. The moment Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an reason later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {