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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a central motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the full reality, including the most powerful figures in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman prancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a pirate's game in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to capture the full truth, even for the most powerful characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his legend, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the government's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their authority. Now, with what little awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting idea is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he endangered everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his own grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in God Valley, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can consider this version as completely accurate. The series may offer an reason in the future, maybe linked to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {