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The adage 'History is recorded by the victors' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful characters in this story's complex history. Oden was no silly performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's contest in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends often do not convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had yet to outgrow their humanity. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's approved version of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent 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 eliminate the island where his kin resided, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Garp serve the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality reveals something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and events he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The series may offer an reason later, perhaps connected to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {