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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' serves as a central motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends often do not capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this theme. The whole God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

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

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley event, represents one of the series' finest arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to see them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "games," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of events, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. After confronting the sovereign, he lost his will and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The series may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that the past is written by the victors. This mindset is {