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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not convey the complete truth, including the most influential characters in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths often fail to convey the full reality, including the most powerful characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley event, represents one of the series' finest storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they became icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His affection for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After facing Imu, he lost his will and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers mass murder and slavery as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including perspectives and events he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this account as entirely truthful. The series may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {