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The adage 'The past is recorded by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a buccaneer's contest in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley story serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most powerful figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, stands as one of the story's finest storylines to now. Beyond the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them before they turned into icons — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. History, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of individuals 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 were acquainted with them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Individual Prior to 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 youth governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory discovered him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden history. His love for the barkeep led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister realities: the extermination "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in God Valley, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the government's scheme to eliminate the land where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Defiance

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Similar doubts have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to Loki's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle incident perfectly embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {