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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' serves as a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most influential figures in this world's complex history. Oden was no foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano; he acted out of honor and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, as well; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we witness the culmination of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a warning story, advising readers not to judge the characters too quickly.

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

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle event, stands as one of the story's best arcs to date. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their prime, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, shaped our perception of figures like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a new age of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by passion and wanderlust. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet little is understood about his first journey, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the genocidal "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the planet's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a Holy Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the world and seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec came almost entirely from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned narrative of events, the exact narrative the sovereign approved to conceal the truth about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the government's scheme to annihilate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his will and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks actually meet his end? An interesting theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being discovered.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

Another key figure of the God Valley event is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That feeling became even more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandson. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, knowing the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the elite?

The reality uncovers something distinct. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Roger was not meant to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to wipe out everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never wanted to be promoted to Admiral, answering directly to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I believe we can consider this account as completely accurate. The manga may offer an reason later, maybe connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This attitude is {