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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most powerful characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Legends frequently fail to convey the complete truth, including the most powerful figures.

The series's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into icons — when their reputation had still not surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand stories, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But both the government's accounts and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved version of occurrences, the very story Imu authorized to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandson. Similar questions have now reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an reason later, perhaps linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley event excellently embodies the notion that history is written by the winners. This attitude is {