The Series' God Valley Flashback Reveals Why Legends Aren't to Be Trusted Blindly

The adage 'The past is written by the winners' is a key theme that Eiichiro Oda's epic author Eiichiro Oda has for some time integrated into the narrative. Popular tales frequently do not capture the full truth, including the most influential characters in this story's intricate history. Kozuki Oden wasn't a foolish performer prancing through the streets of Wano; he acted out of honor and conviction. Bartholomew Kuma was not a ruthless villain who tore apart the Straw Hats, either; he was doing them a favor. Similarly, the Davy Jones legend signified beyond just a pirate's game in pursuit of flags and followers.

In chapter #1164 of the manga, we see the culmination of this theme. The whole Divine Isle narrative acts as a cautionary tale, advising audiences not to evaluate the characters too hastily.

Myths frequently do not convey the full reality, including the most influential figures.

The series's latest flashback, chronicling the God Valley incident, represents one of the story's finest arcs to date. Apart from the thrill of seeing legends in their prime, it's compelling to observe them prior to when they turned into icons — when their fame had yet to surpass their humanity. The past, as recorded by the World Government and retold through secondhand tales, painted our perception of figures like Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, and including Monkey D. Garp. But both the government's records and the narratives of those who were acquainted with them turn out to be unreliable, revealing only fragments of who these men really were.

The Individual Before the Legend

The future Pirate King may have been driven by purpose and the daring attitude that ignited a new age of piracy, but prior to he was known as the Pirate King, he was a youth governed by emotion and wanderlust. When individuals speak of his myth, they typically mean his later journey, the grand expedition in search of the guide stones that point toward the final island. However not much is known about his initial travels, the one that shaped him prior to fame found him.

At that time, Roger was largely unaware of the globe's hidden past. His love for Shakky led him to the Divine Isle, where he uncovered the World Government's darkest realities: the extermination "contests," the monstrous appearances of the Gorosei, and even the existence of the planet's unseen ruler, the mysterious leader. We haven't seen Roger's thoughts about all that's happening in the Divine Isle, but maybe finding the son of a Holy Knight on his ship will make him realize his role in the globe and seek the truth he glimpsed from Xebec's situation.

The Reality About Rocks D. Xebec

Before this flashback, what we were aware of of Rocks D. Xebec came mostly from the former Fleet Admiral's version, both to the audience and to young Marines. He painted Rocks D. Xebec as a despicable, power-hungry man determined to achieve world domination, someone so threatening that Gol D. Roger and Garp had to team up to overcome him. But as it transpires, the strategist wasn't even there at the Divine Isle; he was merely echoing the World Government's sanctioned narrative of events, the very narrative the sovereign authorized to bury the truth about Xebec and the event itself.

In truth, The captain, whose real name was Davy D. Xebec, was a principled man who aimed to overthrow the ruler and dismantle the decadent Global Authority. We don't know if he was guided by ambition, retribution for his clan, or a wish for justice, but when he found out the regime's plan to annihilate the island where his family lived, he abandoned his dreams of conquest to save them.

This devotion for his relatives became his undoing. After confronting Imu, he lost his determination and freedom, turning into a puppet controlled to their power. Now, with what little consciousness is left, he pleads with Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp to kill him — thinking that dying would be a mercy compared to the torment he endures. The truth of Rocks is thus far from the story narrated by Sengoku, and the manga shows him in a positive light during the God Valley events.

Could He Be Living Today?

But did Rocks really die? An intriguing theory is that he is even now a slave to Imu in the current timeline, acting as the scarred individual, keeping the World Government's only remaining Poneglyph in constant transit to keep the ultimate treasure from being found.

Garp's Hidden Rebellion

Another key figure of the Divine Isle incident is Monkey D. Garp, who has endured criticism from fans for a long time for doing nothing as Admiral Akainu killed Portgas D. Ace. That feeling became even stronger after the time jump, when he risked all to rescue Koby at Pirate Island, causing many to wonder why he was unable to do the same for his biological grandchild. Comparable doubts have now resurfaced with the God Valley flashback: how could Garp work for the Navy, aware the World Government treats genocide and enslavement as sport for the upper class?

The truth reveals something different. The instant Garp saw the Gorosei's grotesque shapes, he attacked immediately. His partnership with Roger was not meant to defeat some villainous Rocks D. Xebec, but a bold act of rebellion, an effort to halt Imu, who was using Rocks D. Xebec as a tool to eliminate all in God Valley, including it seems, including the World Nobles themselves. This incident is probably the cause Garp detests the Celestial Dragons in the present day and why he not once wanted to be elevated to Admiral, reporting straight to them.

History's Untrustworthy Narrators

Although the audience are viewing the God Valley incident through a flashback narrated by Loki, covering perspectives and events he clearly was absent for, I believe we can treat this account as completely truthful. The manga may offer an explanation later, perhaps linked to the giant's yet unknown Devil Fruit. Still, the Divine Isle incident excellently embodies the notion that history is written by the victors. This attitude is {