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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' is a key theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not capture the complete truth, even for the most influential figures in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to convey the full reality, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to see them before they turned into icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His love for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from Sengoku's account, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not present at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative Imu authorized to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event 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 decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a favorable light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting 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 Defiance

Another key figure of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandson. Similar questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are seeing the God Valley incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this account as completely accurate. The series may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event perfectly embodies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {