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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' is a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters in this world's intricate history. Oden wasn't a foolish performer prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Myths often fail to convey the complete truth, including the most powerful figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the series' finest arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's approved narrative of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the truth 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 sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his family, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

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

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for years for standing by as Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and slavery as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle event perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {