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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures in this world's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this idea. The entire God Valley story acts as a warning story, advising readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently do not convey the complete reality, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing legends in their peak, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand stories, painted our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His love for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the planet's hidden sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in God Valley, but maybe discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the globe and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not present at God Valley; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the exact narrative Imu authorized to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a favorable light during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp work for the Marines, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Even though the readers are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The series may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently embodies the idea that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {