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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a key theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful characters in this story's complex history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones signified more than a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Legends frequently do not convey the full reality, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they became symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But both the regime's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's approved narrative of events, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to annihilate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. After facing the sovereign, he lost his will and liberty, 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 — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting idea is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government considers genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality reveals something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in God Valley, even apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the cause Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {