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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to convey the full truth, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a buccaneer's game in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to capture the complete reality, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the story's finest storylines 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 still not surpass their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the daring attitude that sparked a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his later journey, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the genocidal "games," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in God Valley, but perhaps finding the child of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved version of events, the exact story Imu approved to conceal the truth 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 aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the land where his kin resided, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. After confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic presents him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks actually die? An interesting theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in continuous movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable questions have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the reason Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the God Valley event through a flashback recounted by Loki, including perspectives and events he obviously was absent for, I think we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an reason later, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {