Though the latest flashback in One Piece has begun addressing the day the King of the Giants, Rocks, died, it has shifted into depicting the events of what is arguably the biggest moment in the series: the God Valley Incident. This incident was first mentioned in Chapter 957 of One Piecereleased six years ago. It has long been renowned as the day Monkey D. Garp and Gol D. Roger joined forces to defeat one of the most infamous figures in history, Rocks D. Xebec.
Up until the latest flashback began revealing new details about Rocks, he had always been portrayed as a villain, and the God Valley Incident was considered a triumph for Roger and the Marines in taking him down. However, the revelations so far make it clear that much of what fans thought they knew has changed. While there are several shifts in perspective, here we highlight the three biggest changes to the God Valley Incident that reshape the entire story.
3) Shanks Wasn’t Abandoned
One of the major reasons the God Valley Incident is considered such a great event in They bakee is that it was also where the Roger Pirates found Shanks. While it was initially implied that Shanks was some sort of “treasure child,” the reveal of Saint Garling Figarland seemingly abandoning his son has been clarified. It wasn’t abandonment, but rather Monkey D. Dragon’s involvement that caused the separation.
This makes it clear that Garling wasn’t necessarily a bad father, but instead believed Shanks had died amidst the chaos. With Dragon being the one who had Shanks with him, he is the person who placed him in the treasure chest later found by the Roger Pirates. This recontextualizes the story, showing that Garling didn’t abandon Shanks, but Dragon instead helped shape his path, a far better outcome, since if Garling had known the truth, he would surely have kept Shanks for himself and forced him to become like Shamrock.
2) Shakky Is the Renowned Cause of the Biggest Incident
Up until Shakky entered the picture, the manga had led fans to believe that the main reason everyone gathered on God Valley Island, on the day when the World Nobles were hunting the innocent for sport, was that pirates such as the Rocks Pirates and the Roger Pirates had come seeking prizes.
However, with the revelation that Shakky was considered the most valuable treasure among the pirates, she became the true cause of the conflict, as she was also placed as a prize, drawing pirates who sailed to claim her for themselves. This stands as one of the biggest retcons that One Piece fans have seen, and while it may seem humorous that the greatest incident in history began over a woman, it also grounds the event in a more realistic context, making its cause even more remarkable.
1) Rocks Is Not a Villain
Every flashback that mentioned Rocks before his full reveal painted him as one of the most notorious pirates to have ever lived, driven only by evil schemes. With the added revelation that he was Blackbeard’s father, this image was further solidified, casting him as the ultimate villain in One Piece. However, as the latest flashback unfolded, fans began to see his true reasons. Much like other pirates, his actions were against the World Government’s tyranny, but what set him apart was the significant impact of those actions.
What makes Rocks less of a villain is his genuine attempt to befriend Harold despite constant rejection. Yet, the biggest retcon redefining him is the reason behind his role in the God Valley Incident, his desire to protect his wife and child, who had also been targeted for execution. While every other pirate was at the incident for Shakky, Rocks’ real reason was something far more profound. It is now clear he will die defending them rather than battling Garp and Roger as previously believed, marking him not as the villain he was always portrayed to be, but as a tragic hero of One Piece.
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