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The adage 'The past is written by the victors' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Popular tales often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential characters in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman prancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the full reality, even for the most influential figures.

The series's latest look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the series' finest arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became icons — when their reputation had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's accounts and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet little is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden history. His love for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from Sengoku's version, each to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's approved narrative of events, the exact narrative Imu approved to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We don't know if he was guided by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's plan to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After facing Imu, he forfeited his will and liberty, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the story told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandson. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp work for the Marines, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque forms, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback narrated by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as completely truthful. The series may offer an reason in the future, perhaps linked to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident perfectly embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {