The God Valley Incident has always been one of the great mysteries in One Piece lore. For years, fans believed Rocks D. Xebec—one of history’s most notorious pirates—launched his infamous attack out of greed and ambition. But with Chapter 1159, Eiichiro Oda reshapes that perception by revealing Rocks’ hidden motive: a mission rooted not in conquest, but in family.
Rocks D. Xebec at God Valley: More Than a Villain
The flashback shows that Rocks’ presence at God Valley wasn’t simply to cause chaos or challenge Gol D. Roger and Garp. Instead, Rocks arrived to save his wife and their young son—Marshall D. Teach, who would later become the fearsome Blackbeard.
This revelation paints a strikingly different image of Rocks. Instead of the one-dimensional villain history recorded, he emerges as a morally complex figure—a ruthless pirate, yes, but also a father willing to risk everything for his family.
Dragon’s Role in the Rescue
Monkey D. Dragon also features in this flashback, standing at the crossroads of fate. The chapter strongly suggests that Dragon assisted in rescuing Rocks’ family from the carnage. Ironically, while he played the hero for Xebec’s wife and child, Dragon was largely absent in his own son’s life—Luffy only learned of his father’s existence much later.
This contrast adds nuance to One Piece’s recurring theme of fatherhood: some fathers sacrifice themselves for their children, while others, even heroes, fail to be present.
Fatherhood and the Moral Gray Area
Oda frequently explores family bonds, but especially the weight of fatherhood. Gol D. Roger died before knowing Ace, Garp tried molding Luffy into a Marine but failed, and Dragon prioritized revolution over parenthood. In comparison, Rocks’ desperate attempt to save his family adds surprising humanity to his name.
Rather than the “monster” of pirate legend, Rocks is reframed as a morally ambiguous figure—a villain in history, but also a man driven by paternal love.
The Davy Clan and the Will of D.
Chapter 1159 also reveals Rocks’ full name as Davy D. Xebec, linking him to the mysterious Davy clan and further entwining him with the Will of D. This opens exciting possibilities:
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The Davy clan may be tied to Joy Boy’s legacy.
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Blackbeard’s rebellion against the World Government could be part of a generational mission.
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The Marines’ attempt to erase this bloodline strengthens the theme of inherited will.
This revelation may reshape the D. family tree and place Blackbeard’s ambitions in a more tragic, ancestral context.
Rewriting History
For decades, the God Valley Incident was remembered as Rocks’ downfall—a battle where Roger and Garp allied to crush the world’s most dangerous pirate. But if Rocks was fighting to save his family, then history itself has mislabeled him. Much like Luffy, who fights for his friends above all else, Rocks’ actions reveal that even the most feared pirate could be driven by something deeply human.
Conclusion
Chapter 1159 redefines Rocks D. Xebec’s legacy. No longer just the villain of legend, Rocks now stands as a symbol of One Piece’s greatest theme: family. His mission at God Valley, tied to both the Davy clan and the Will of D., not only reshapes his image but also connects directly to Blackbeard’s rise and the final saga of the series.
The world once remembered Rocks as a monster. But One Piece now asks: what if he was a father first, and a pirate second?
