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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' serves as a key theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the complete reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's complex history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his later journey, the epic expedition in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the globe and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

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

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the readers are seeing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as completely accurate. The manga may provide an explanation later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the idea that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {