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The saying 'History is written by the winners' is a key theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to convey the full reality, even for the most powerful characters in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends often fail to convey the full reality, even for the most powerful figures.

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand stories, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually mean his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the globe's secret history. His love for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the world and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku'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 Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's approved narrative of events, the exact narrative Imu authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he discovered the government's scheme to eliminate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting Imu, he forfeited his will and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks really die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining Poneglyph in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous forms, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an reason in the future, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {