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The saying 'History is written by the victors' is a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Popular tales often fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most influential figures in this world's intricate history. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of honor and principle. Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In installment #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The entire God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, instructing readers not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Myths frequently fail to capture the full reality, including the most influential figures.

One Piece's most recent look back, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their peak, it's compelling to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. The past, as written by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, shaped our perception of individuals like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the regime's records and the narratives of those who knew them turn out to be untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the bold attitude that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth ruled by passion and wanderlust. When people discuss his myth, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet little is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to glory discovered him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His love for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the world's unseen sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about everything occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his place in the world and seek the reality he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Reality About The Infamous Captain

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the exact narrative Imu authorized to bury the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, revenge for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the government's scheme to annihilate the island where his kin lived, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his downfall. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he pleads with Roger and Monkey D. 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 very different from the tale narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga presents him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's last ancient stone in continuous transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has faced criticism from fans for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandson. Similar questions have recently resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers mass murder and slavery as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Elders' monstrous forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he never desired to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Although the readers are viewing the God Valley event through a recollection recounted by the giant, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as completely truthful. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe connected to the giant's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event perfectly exemplifies the notion that the past is written by the winners. This mindset is {