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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' serves as a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Legends frequently fail to capture the full truth, even for the most influential figures in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends often do not capture the full reality, even for the most powerful characters.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the story's best arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his legend, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's approved narrative of events, the very narrative Imu approved to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to annihilate the land where his family lived, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his relatives became his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what little awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The series may provide an reason later, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the notion that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {