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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Legends often do not convey the complete reality, including the most powerful figures.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's finest arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they typically mean his later journey, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the world's hidden past. His love for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident 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 decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his kin lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a mercy compared to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Marines, aware the Global Authority considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance 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 Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an reason in the future, perhaps linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {