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The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most influential figures in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no foolish performer dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Legends often fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures.

The series's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When people speak of his legend, they typically mean his later journey, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His affection for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place 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 recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of events, the exact story the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a kindness compared to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and events he obviously was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The series may offer an reason in the future, maybe linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {