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The adage 'History is written by the victors' is a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales often fail to convey the full truth, including the most influential figures in this world's complex history. Oden was no foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a pirate's game in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

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

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the bold spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and wanderlust. When people speak of his myth, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not present at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to eliminate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. After facing Imu, he forfeited his will and freedom, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive 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 current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from fans for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in God Valley, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley incident through a recollection narrated by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as completely truthful. The series may provide an reason later, maybe linked to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {