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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the full reality, including the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths often do not convey the full reality, including the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best storylines to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they became symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they usually mean his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret past. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the exact story Imu authorized to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the island where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited consciousness 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 truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga 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 attitude is {