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The saying 'The past is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Popular tales often fail to convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a buccaneer's game in search of flags and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley story acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to judge the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to convey the full truth, even for the most influential figures.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had still not outgrow their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the grand quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that point toward the final island. Yet little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden history. His affection for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about everything occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not present at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact story the sovereign approved to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for fairness, but when he found out the regime's scheme to annihilate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his downfall. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what little consciousness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a servant to Imu in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's last ancient stone in continuous movement to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

Another key figure of the Divine Isle event is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandson. Comparable doubts have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque shapes, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the audience are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by Loki, including perspectives and events he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this account as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {