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The adage 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a key motif that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales often do not convey the complete reality, including the most influential figures in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most influential figures.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to now. Apart from the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold attitude that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the world and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from Sengoku's account, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved version of occurrences, the exact story the sovereign approved to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for a long time for standing by as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandchild. Similar doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality reveals something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and events he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {