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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Legends often fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures in this world's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

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

Legends often fail to capture the full reality, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent flashback, detailing the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the series' finest arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to see them before they turned into icons — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and recounted through secondhand stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the government's accounts and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era of piracy, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man ruled by passion and the desire to explore. 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. However little is known about his first journey, the one that shaped 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 World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and even the presence of the planet's unseen sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything happening in God Valley, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his ship will lead him to understand his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was only echoing the World Government's approved version of occurrences, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to end his life — thinking that dying would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant movement to prevent the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked everything to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he couldn't do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable questions have recently resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck immediately. His partnership with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the reason Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by Loki, including perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this version as completely accurate. The series may provide an explanation later, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event perfectly embodies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This attitude is {