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The saying 'The past is written by the winners' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Popular tales often do not convey the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures.

The series's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only fragments 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 new age of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and wanderlust. When people speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's 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 predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the exact narrative Imu approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his relatives became his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the story told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last Poneglyph in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Elders' grotesque forms, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and events he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, maybe connected to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {