One Piece's Divine Isle Flashback Demonstrates Why Legends Aren't to Be Believed Without Question

The adage 'The past is written by the victors' serves as a central theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic creator Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the story. Legends often fail to capture the complete truth, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Oden wasn't a foolish performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of duty and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, Davy Jones meant more than a buccaneer's contest in search of emblems and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The whole Divine Isle story acts as a warning story, advising readers not to judge the individuals too quickly.

Myths often do not capture the complete truth, even for the most influential figures.

One Piece's latest look back, detailing the God Valley event, stands as one of the series' finest storylines to now. Beyond the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's gripping to see them prior to when they turned into symbols — when their fame had still not surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the Global Authority and retold through hearsay stories, painted our perception 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 prove untrustworthy, showing only pieces of who these men really were.

The Man Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been driven by purpose and the daring spirit that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he was known as the King of the Pirates, he was a youth governed by passion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they typically refer to his later journey, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. However little is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before fame found him.

At that time, Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he discovered the World Government's darkest truths: the genocidal "games," the grotesque forms of the Gorosei, and including the existence of the planet's hidden sovereign, the mysterious leader. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's reflections about all that's occurring in God Valley, but perhaps discovering the child of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his place in the world and pursue the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this recollection, what we knew of Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, each to the viewers and to new Marines. He depicted Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to join forces to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at God Valley; he was merely echoing the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact narrative Imu approved to conceal the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who sought to topple Imu and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to eliminate the island where his family lived, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to save them.

This love for his family proved to be his undoing. Upon confronting the sovereign, he forfeited his determination and freedom, turning into a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited consciousness remains, he begs with Roger and Monkey D. Garp to end his life — believing that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The reality of Rocks is thus far from the tale narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the God Valley incidents.

Could He Be Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks really die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a servant to the ruler in the present day, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in continuous movement to prevent the One Piece from being found.

The Hero's Secret Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for years for standing by as Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the identical for his biological grandchild. Similar questions have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle recollection: how can Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The truth reveals something distinct. The moment Monkey D. Garp saw the Gorosei's monstrous shapes, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Roger was not meant to vanquish some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a courageous act of defiance, an effort to halt the sovereign, who was manipulating Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in the Divine Isle, including it seems, even the World Nobles themselves. This event is probably the cause Garp detests the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once desired to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering straight to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Even though the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by the giant, covering perspectives and events he clearly was absent for, I believe we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The series may offer an explanation in the future, perhaps linked to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle event perfectly embodies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {