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The saying 'History is written by the winners' serves as a central theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales often fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate past. Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the roads of Wano Country; he acted out of honor and conviction. Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, as well; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified beyond just a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole God Valley story serves as a warning story, instructing audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently fail to convey the full truth, even for the most powerful figures.

One Piece's latest flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the story's finest arcs to now. Apart from the excitement of seeing icons in their peak, it's gripping to observe them before they became icons — when their reputation had yet to outgrow their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through hearsay stories, painted our perception of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and including Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Individual Before the Myth

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by mission and the daring spirit that sparked a fresh era 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 legend, they usually refer to his later journey, the epic expedition in pursuit of the guide stones that lead to the final island. Yet not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him prior to fame discovered him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's secret past. His affection for the barkeep guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and including the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about everything happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, 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 turns out, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of occurrences, the very story Imu approved to conceal the reality about Rocks D. Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who sought to overthrow 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 regime's scheme to eliminate the island where his family resided, he abandoned his dreams of domination to rescue them.

This devotion for his relatives became his downfall. Upon confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet enslaved to their authority. Currently, with what limited consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that death would be a kindness compared to the torment he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the comic shows him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks really meet his end? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant movement to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further protagonist of the God Valley incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for years for doing nothing as Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the time jump, when he endangered all to save Koby at Pirate Island, leading many to wonder why he couldn't do the identical for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as entertainment for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The instant Monkey D. Garp witnessed the Elders' grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His partnership with Gol D. Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an attempt to stop Imu, who was manipulating Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to wipe out all in God Valley, including it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never desired to be elevated to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

History's Unreliable Storytellers

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley event through a flashback narrated by the giant, including perspectives and occurrences he clearly wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this version as completely accurate. The manga may offer an reason in the future, maybe linked to Loki's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the God Valley incident excellently embodies the notion that the past is recorded by the winners. This mindset is {