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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends often do not convey the full reality, even for the most influential figures in this world's intricate history. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. 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 more than a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to capture the full truth, even for the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' finest storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they became symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his myth, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's unseen ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in God Valley, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even present at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative Imu approved to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After confronting Imu, he lost his will and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in constant movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Defiance

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by the giant, covering perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an reason in the future, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {