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The adage 'History is recorded by the winners' is a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends frequently fail to convey the complete truth, including the most influential figures in this world's complex past. Kozuki Oden was no silly showman dancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, Davy Jones meant more than a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of One Piece, we witness the culmination of this idea. The entire Divine Isle narrative acts as a warning story, advising readers not to judge the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently do not capture the complete reality, including the most powerful characters.

The series's most recent look back, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the story's finest storylines to date. Apart from the excitement of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to observe them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not outgrow their humanity. The past, as written by the Global Authority and recounted through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the bold attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the King of the Pirates, he was a young man governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his legend, they usually refer to his second voyage, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before fame found him.

Back then, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky led him to God Valley, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the world's hidden sovereign, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but maybe discovering the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and seek the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's account, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it transpires, Sengoku was not there at God Valley; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We are unsure if he was guided by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his family proved to be his undoing. After facing Imu, he lost his determination and liberty, becoming a puppet enslaved to their power. Currently, with what little consciousness is left, he begs with Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a mercy compared to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable light during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Living Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec actually die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the Global Authority's last Poneglyph in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

Another key figure of the God Valley incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from followers for years for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he endangered everything to save the young Marine at Pirate Island, causing many to question why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp serve the Marines, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something distinct. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Gorosei's monstrous forms, he attacked without hesitation. His partnership with Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is likely the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, answering straight to them.

History's Unreliable Narrators

Even though the audience are seeing the Divine Isle incident through a flashback recounted by Loki, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {