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The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a central motif that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time woven into the story. Legends often do not convey the complete truth, even for the most powerful characters in this story's intricate past. Kozuki Oden was no silly performer prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a merciless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones meant beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The entire God Valley narrative serves as a warning story, instructing readers not to evaluate the characters too quickly.

Legends frequently do not convey the full truth, even for the most influential characters.

The series's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of witnessing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them before they turned into icons — when their reputation had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the World Government and recounted through secondhand stories, painted our understanding of figures like Gol D. Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really were.

The Individual Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he became the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his myth, they usually mean his later journey, the epic expedition in search of the guide stones that point toward Laugh Tale. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the globe's hidden past. His affection for Shakky guided him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the world's hidden sovereign, Imu. We are yet to witness Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will lead him to understand his role in the world and pursue the truth he caught a glimpse of from Rocks D. Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's version, each to the viewers and to young Navy recruits. He painted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve 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 wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the World Government's sanctioned version of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to conceal the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent World Government. We are unsure if he was motivated by lust for power, retribution for his family, or a desire for justice, but when he discovered the regime's scheme to annihilate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his ambitions of domination to rescue them.

This love for his family proved to be his downfall. After facing Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, turning into a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited awareness remains, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the torment he suffers. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a favorable manner during the God Valley events.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks D. Xebec really die? An interesting idea is that he is even now a slave to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

Another protagonist of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to save the young Marine at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his own grandson. Similar doubts have now resurfaced with the God Valley recollection: how could Garp serve the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The reality uncovers something different. The instant Garp saw the Elders' grotesque shapes, he struck without hesitation. His partnership with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to stop Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback recounted by the giant, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the idea that the past is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {