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The adage 'History is written by the victors' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Popular tales frequently do not capture the full reality, even for the most powerful characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant more than a buccaneer's game in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Myths frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential characters.

One Piece's most recent flashback, chronicling the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' best arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Individual Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by mission and the bold spirit that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his legend, they typically refer to his second voyage, the grand quest in search of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. Yet little is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His love for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's happening in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on 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 there at God Valley; he was merely repeating the World Government's sanctioned version of occurrences, the exact narrative Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family became his downfall. After facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An interesting theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as the scarred individual, maintaining the Global Authority's last ancient stone in constant movement to prevent the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further protagonist of the God Valley event is Garp, who has faced criticism from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That feeling only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Garp work for the Marines, aware the Global Authority treats mass murder and slavery as sport for the elite?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Elders' monstrous shapes, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of defiance, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in God Valley, even it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the cause Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle event through a flashback recounted by the giant, covering viewpoints and events he clearly was absent for, I believe we can treat this account as entirely truthful. The manga may provide an explanation in the future, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the idea that the past is recorded by the victors. This mindset is {