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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful figures in this story's complex history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Myths often do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. History, as written by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of figures like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory found him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret history. His love for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but maybe discovering the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of events, the exact story the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this account as entirely truthful. The series may provide an reason later, perhaps connected to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {