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The saying 'The past is recorded by the victors' serves as a key motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long integrated into the narrative. Legends frequently fail to capture the full reality, including the most influential characters in this story's complex past. Kozuki Oden was no foolish performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he behaved out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless antagonist who separated the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend meant beyond just a buccaneer's game in pursuit of emblems and followers.

In installment #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this idea. The whole Divine Isle story serves as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to judge the characters too hastily.

Legends often do not convey the full reality, including the most powerful figures.

One Piece's latest flashback, chronicling the Divine Isle event, represents one of the story's best storylines to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them before they became icons — when their reputation had yet to surpass their human nature. History, as recorded by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, shaped our understanding of individuals like Roger, Xebec, and even Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the stories of those who were acquainted with them prove untrustworthy, revealing only fragments of who these individuals really 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 prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a young man governed by passion and the desire to explore. When people discuss his myth, they typically refer to his second voyage, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. However little is understood about his initial travels, the one that molded him before glory discovered him.

At that time, Gol D. Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the extermination "games," the grotesque appearances of the Gorosei, and even the presence of the planet's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen 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 seek the truth he glimpsed from Rocks D. Xebec's predicament.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came almost entirely from the former Fleet Admiral's account, both to the audience and to young Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to team up to defeat him. But as it turns out, the strategist was not there at the Divine Isle; he was only repeating the Global Authority's sanctioned version of events, the exact story Imu authorized to conceal the reality 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 Global Authority. 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 government's plan to eliminate the land where his family lived, he gave up his dreams of domination to save them.

This devotion for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After confronting Imu, he forfeited his determination and liberty, becoming a marionette enslaved to their power. Now, with what limited consciousness is left, he begs with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — believing that death would be a kindness in contrast to the living hell he suffers. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the tale told by Sengoku, and the comic presents him in a positive light during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But did Rocks actually die? An interesting idea is that he is still a slave to the ruler in the current timeline, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, keeping the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Defiance

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for standing by as Admiral Akainu killed Ace. That sentiment became even more intense after the time jump, when he risked all to save Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandson. Comparable doubts have recently resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Monkey D. Garp work for the Navy, knowing the Global Authority considers genocide and slavery as sport for the upper class?

The truth uncovers something distinct. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque forms, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to vanquish some evil Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an attempt to stop the sovereign, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a pawn to wipe out all in the Divine Isle, even apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is probably the cause Monkey D. Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the current era and why he never desired to be promoted to Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the readers are seeing the Divine Isle event through a recollection recounted by Loki, including viewpoints and occurrences he obviously wasn't present for, I believe we can consider this account as entirely accurate. The manga may provide an reason later, maybe linked to the giant's still mysterious paramecia ability. Still, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the notion that history is recorded by the victors. This attitude is {