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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Popular tales frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer dancing through the roads of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Legends often fail to convey the complete truth, even for the most influential figures.

The series's latest look back, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' best arcs to now. Beyond the excitement of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. 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 overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the very story Imu approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided 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 lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After facing Imu, he lost his will and liberty, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited awareness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a favorable manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an attempt to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in God Valley, even apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle incident perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {