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The saying 'History is recorded by the winners' serves as a key motif that One Piece author Eiichiro Oda has long woven into the narrative. Popular tales frequently fail to convey the complete reality, even for the most powerful figures in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden was no foolish showman prancing through the streets of Wano Country; he behaved out of duty and principle. Bartholomew Kuma wasn't a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hat Pirates, either; he was helping them. Likewise, Davy Jones signified more than a buccaneer's contest in pursuit of emblems and crews.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the peak of this theme. The entire Divine Isle story acts as a cautionary tale, advising readers not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths often fail to capture the full truth, including the most influential figures.

The series's latest look back, detailing the Divine Isle incident, stands as one of the series' finest arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's gripping to see them before they became symbols — when their reputation had still not outgrow their human nature. History, as written by the World Government and retold through hearsay stories, painted our understanding of individuals like Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But each of the regime's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them prove unreliable, showing only pieces of who these individuals truly were.

The Individual Before the Legend

Gol D. Roger may have been guided by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a fresh era of piracy, but before he became the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and the desire to explore. When people speak of his legend, they usually mean his later journey, the epic quest in search of the Road Poneglyphs that lead to the final island. Yet not much is known about his first journey, the one that molded him prior to glory found him.

Back then, Roger was largely unaware of the world's hidden past. His affection for the barkeep led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the Global Authority's most sinister truths: the genocidal "contests," the monstrous forms of the Five Elders, and including the existence of the world's hidden ruler, Imu. We haven't seen Gol D. Roger's thoughts about all that's occurring in the Divine Isle, but perhaps finding the son of a God's Knight on his ship will make him realize his place in the globe and seek the truth he caught a glimpse of from Xebec's situation.

The Truth About The Infamous Captain

Prior to this recollection, what we knew of Rocks D. Xebec was derived mostly from Sengoku's version, both to the viewers and to new Navy recruits. He depicted Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man bent on global control, someone so dangerous that Roger and Garp had to join forces to overcome him. But as it turns out, the strategist wasn't even present at the Divine Isle; he was merely repeating the World Government's approved narrative of events, the exact narrative Imu authorized to bury the reality about Xebec and the incident itself.

In truth, Rocks D. Xebec, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a ethical man who aimed to topple the ruler and dismantle the corrupt World Government. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a desire for justice, but when he found out the regime's scheme to eliminate the land where his kin lived, he gave up his dreams of conquest to save them.

This love for his relatives proved to be his undoing. After facing the sovereign, he forfeited his will and liberty, turning into a puppet controlled to their authority. Now, with what little consciousness remains, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Garp to kill him — thinking that death would be a mercy in contrast to the living hell he endures. The truth of Rocks D. Xebec is thus very different from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga presents him in a positive manner during the Divine Isle incidents.

Is He Still Alive Today?

But was Rocks D. Xebec really die? An intriguing theory is that he is still a slave to Imu in the present day, serving as The Man Marked By Flames, maintaining the World Government's only remaining ancient stone in constant movement to prevent the One Piece from being discovered.

The Hero's Hidden Rebellion

A further key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Garp, who has faced backlash from fans for years for doing nothing as Akainu murdered Ace. That sentiment became even stronger after the timeskip, when he risked everything to rescue the young Marine at Hachinosu, causing many to wonder why he couldn't do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable questions have recently reemerged with the God Valley flashback: how can Garp work for the Navy, aware the Global Authority considers genocide and slavery as entertainment for the elite?

The reality reveals something different. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he struck immediately. His alliance with Gol D. Roger wasn't to defeat some evil Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Xebec as a pawn to eliminate all in the Divine Isle, including apparently, including the Celestial Dragons themselves. This event is likely the cause Garp despises the World Nobles in the present day and why he not once wanted to be promoted to Fleet Admiral, reporting directly to them.

The Past's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are seeing the Divine Isle event through a flashback narrated by the giant, covering viewpoints and occurrences he clearly was absent for, I think we can consider this version as entirely accurate. The manga may offer an reason in the future, perhaps connected to the giant's still mysterious Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, the Divine Isle event excellently exemplifies the idea that history is recorded by the winners. This attitude is {