One Piece's Divine Isle Flashback Demonstrates Why Myths Shouldn't Be Believed Without Question

The adage 'History is recorded by the victors' is a key theme that One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the story. Legends often fail to convey the complete reality, including the most influential characters in this world's intricate past. Oden wasn't a foolish performer dancing through the streets of Wano Country; he acted out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, as well; he was doing them a favor. Likewise, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a pirate's contest in search of emblems and crews.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The entire God Valley story serves as a cautionary tale, instructing readers not to evaluate the individuals too hastily.

Legends frequently fail to capture the complete reality, even for the most powerful characters.

One Piece's most recent flashback, detailing the God Valley incident, stands as one of the series' best arcs to now. Apart from the thrill of seeing icons in their peak, it's compelling 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 Global Authority and recounted through hearsay tales, shaped our perception of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who knew them prove unreliable, showing only fragments of who these men truly were.

The Man Prior to the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the bold attitude that sparked a fresh era of buccaneering, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When individuals discuss his myth, they typically mean his second voyage, the epic expedition in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to Laugh Tale. However not much is understood about his initial travels, the one that shaped him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger knew little of the world's secret history. His affection for Shakky guided him to God Valley, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the extermination "contests," the grotesque appearances of the Five Elders, and including the presence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We are yet to witness Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in God Valley, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his vessel will make him realize his role in the world and seek the reality he glimpsed from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About Rocks D. Xebec

Prior to this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, each to the audience and to new Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a vile, power-hungry man determined to achieve global control, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist was not present at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's approved narrative of occurrences, the exact story the sovereign authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In reality, Rocks D. Xebec, whose true name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to overthrow Imu and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was motivated by lust for power, revenge for his clan, or a desire for fairness, but when he discovered the government's scheme to eliminate the island where his kin resided, he gave up his ambitions of conquest to rescue them.

This devotion for his family became his undoing. After confronting Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, becoming a puppet controlled to their power. Currently, with what limited consciousness remains, he pleads with Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus very different from the story narrated by the former Fleet Admiral, and the manga shows him in a favorable manner during the God Valley incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks really die? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a servant to Imu in the current timeline, serving as the scarred individual, keeping the Global Authority's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Defiance

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has faced backlash from followers for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu murdered Portgas D. Ace. That sentiment only grew more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Hachinosu, leading many to question why he was unable to do the same for his own grandchild. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the Divine Isle flashback: how can Garp serve the Marines, aware the World Government considers mass murder and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something different. The moment Garp witnessed the Elders' monstrous forms, he attacked without hesitation. His alliance with Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Xebec, but a courageous act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate everyone in God Valley, including it seems, even the Celestial Dragons themselves. This incident is probably the reason Monkey D. Garp detests the World Nobles in the current era and why he never wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, answering directly to them.

The Past's Unreliable Narrators

Although the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and occurrences he obviously was absent for, I believe we can treat this version as entirely truthful. The series may offer an reason later, perhaps connected to Loki's yet unknown paramecia ability. Still, the God Valley event excellently exemplifies the idea that history is written by the winners. This mindset is {