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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the story. Popular tales often do not convey the full reality, even for the most influential characters in this world's complex past. Oden wasn't a silly showman prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to capture the full reality, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their prime, it's gripping to see them before they became icons — when their reputation had still not outgrow their humanity. History, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, painted our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the bold attitude that ignited a new age of buccaneering, but before 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 legend, they typically mean his later journey, the epic quest in search of the guide stones that point toward the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His love for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in God Valley, but maybe discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the world and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec was derived almost entirely from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the World Government's approved version of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to bury the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed 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 desire for fairness, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his family resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family became his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their authority. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks 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, keeping the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in continuous movement to prevent the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in God Valley, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he not once desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are viewing 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 accurate. The series may provide an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Nevertheless, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {