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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently do not convey the full reality, including the most powerful figures in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified more than a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently do not capture the full truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's most recent look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's best storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became symbols — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been driven by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his legend, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His love for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in God Valley, but perhaps finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his place in the globe and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku wasn't even there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to save them.

This love for his relatives became his downfall. After confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a marionette controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking 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 positive manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks actually meet his end? An intriguing idea is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality reveals something distinct. The moment Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including apparently, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the reason Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Even though the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback narrated by the giant, including perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {