The Series' Divine Isle Flashback Reveals Why Legends Aren't to Be Believed Without Question

The saying 'History is recorded by the victors' is a key motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the narrative. Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish showman dancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Kuma wasn't a merciless antagonist who separated the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's contest in search of flags and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we see the culmination of this idea. The whole God Valley narrative acts as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the individuals too quickly.

Myths often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley event, represents one of the series' best arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them prior to when they became icons — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. The past, as recorded by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the daring attitude that sparked a new age of buccaneering, but before he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his legend, they typically refer to his later journey, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to Laugh Tale. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Roger knew little of the world's hidden history. His affection for the barkeep guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring 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 seek the reality he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we were aware of of Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, ambitious man bent on world domination, someone so dangerous that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at God Valley; he was only repeating the World Government's approved version of events, the exact story Imu authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the government's plan to annihilate the land where his kin resided, he abandoned his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives became his undoing. After facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little awareness remains, he begs with Roger and Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the tale told by the former Fleet Admiral, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the Divine Isle events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec actually meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in continuous transit to prevent the One Piece from being found.

Garp's Secret Rebellion

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured backlash from followers for years for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the timeskip, when he risked all to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar doubts have recently reemerged with the God Valley recollection: how can Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government treats mass murder and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous shapes, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to stop Imu, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, even apparently, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is likely the cause Monkey D. Garp despises the World Nobles in the current era and why he never desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Storytellers

Although the readers are viewing the Divine Isle incident through a recollection recounted by Loki, including perspectives and events he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can treat this version as completely accurate. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {