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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to capture the complete reality, including the most influential figures in this world's complex past. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle narrative serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Myths often do not convey the complete truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest look back, chronicling the Divine Isle incident, represents one of the story's finest arcs to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them before they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through secondhand stories, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet not much is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him before glory found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret past. His love for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and even the existence of the world's unseen ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the reality he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to new Navy recruits. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's approved version of events, the exact story the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his family, or a wish for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his relatives became his undoing. After facing Imu, he lost his will and freedom, becoming a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a kindness compared to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the story 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 was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting theory is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous movement to keep the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another protagonist of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandson. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government treats mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was using Xebec as a pawn to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are seeing the God Valley event through a recollection narrated by the giant, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {