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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not capture the full reality, including the most powerful characters in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Kuma was not a merciless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in pursuit of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Myths often do not capture the full truth, including the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent look back, detailing the God Valley incident, represents one of the series' best storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they became icons — when their fame had yet to outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who knew them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him before glory found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the globe and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the island where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This love for his family became his downfall. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and freedom, becoming a marionette controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is even now a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandson. Similar doubts have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in God Valley, even apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and events he clearly was absent for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps connected to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {