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The adage 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Popular tales often do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters in this world's complex history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the peak of this theme. The entire God Valley story serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Legends frequently fail to capture the complete truth, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' best storylines to date. Beyond the excitement of witnessing icons in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they became symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay stories, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Individual Before the Myth

The future Pirate King may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the grand quest in pursuit of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he discovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in God Valley, but maybe finding the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the globe and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's account, each to the audience and to young Marines. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so dangerous that Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, Sengoku was not there at God Valley; he was only echoing the Global Authority's approved narrative of occurrences, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he found out the government's scheme to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what little consciousness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last Poneglyph in constant movement to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

Another protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp serve the Marines, knowing the World Government considers mass murder and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The reality reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I think we can treat this version as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to Loki's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident perfectly embodies the idea that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {