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The saying 'History is written by the victors' is a central theme that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. 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 peak of this theme. The entire God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently do not capture the complete reality, even for the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they became symbols — when their fame had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and recounted through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret history. His love for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story Imu authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in constant movement to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he endangered everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandchild. Similar doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in God Valley, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {