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The saying 'History is recorded by the winners' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales often fail to capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's complex history. Oden wasn't a silly showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Legends often do not convey the full truth, including the most influential figures.

The series's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley event, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when 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, painted our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be unreliable, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet little is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the world's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at God Valley; he was only echoing the World Government's approved version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Defiance

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the timeskip, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his own grandson. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in God Valley, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by Loki, including viewpoints and events he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this account as completely accurate. The manga may provide an reason in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {