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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to capture the full reality, including the most influential characters in this world's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly performer prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths often do not convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best storylines to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing legends in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in God Valley, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's account, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the very story the sovereign approved to bury the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his kin resided, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandchild. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority considers mass murder and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as entirely truthful. The series may offer an explanation later, maybe connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {