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The adage 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this world's intricate past. Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

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

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them before they became symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet little 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 love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at God Valley; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved version of events, the very narrative Imu authorized to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. After confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death 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 narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his own grandson. Comparable questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp work for the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in God Valley, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {