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The saying 'The past is recorded by the winners' is a key motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales often fail to convey the full reality, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a silly showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, instructing audiences not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently do not convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of seeing legends in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had still not outgrow their humanity. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Man Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by emotion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his legend, they typically mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him before fame discovered him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's hidden past. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's reflections about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe discovering the child of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to young Marines. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the World Government's sanctioned narrative of occurrences, the exact story Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his family resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. Upon facing Imu, he lost his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their power. Now, with what little awareness is left, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — thinking that death would be a mercy compared to the living hell he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the story told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Garp serve the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle event perfectly exemplifies the idea that history is written by the victors. This mindset is {