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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not capture the full truth, even for the most influential figures in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire God Valley story serves as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures.

The series's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they became icons — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. History, as written by the World Government and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But both the government's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing 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 bold attitude that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically refer to his later journey, the epic quest in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the globe and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the very story the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Marines, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this version as completely truthful. The series may provide an reason later, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {