Julian

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Julian Kate (Julian)
Alias(es)	Mud Dragon Julian; Flame Dragon Julian; Flame Emperor Julian; Flame Dragon Divine Venerable; Lord Flame Emperor
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Flame Dragon Empire; formerly the Mud Dragon Pirates / Flame Dragon Pirates
Occupation/Role	Founder and ruler of the Flame Dragon Empire; pirate captain; former ruler of Skypiea
Status	Retired after Noah succeeds him as Kirin Emperor 459
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Swamp-Swamp Fruit user	1	Consumes a Logia Devil Fruit after washing ashore; gains mud elementalization and begins physical and fruit training.
Mud Dragon Giant Soldier	2	Develops and masters a multi-dragon mud construct for long-range combat and mobility.
Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral-level	25	Assesses himself as roughly comparable to a Headquarters Vice Admiral, though vulnerable to proficient Armament Haki users.
Heart training, version 0.5	45	Successfully completes Heart training and gains greater confidence.
Armament Haki awakened	58	Awakens Armament Haki while continuing to develop his Devil Fruit abilities.
Conqueror's Haki user	81	Uses fiery red Conqueror's Haki while in Flame Giant Dragon Form to incapacitate Shandia warriors and compel their submission.
Physical reinforcement after Skypiea training	90	After six months in Mud Gravity Space and Skypiea's low-oxygen environment, substantially improves his Flesh Fist, stamina, physique, and Fist Bone.
Flame Emperor God of War Form	93	Reveals a new transformation before departing Skypiea.
Flowing Armament Haki mastered	269	Learns and masters Flowing Armament Haki through sparring with Rayleigh.
Great Swordmaster	281	Breaks through after fifteen days of intensive sword training, consolidating his insights into a Sword Heart.

Background / History

Julian is a transmigrator whose soul enters the body of Julian Kate after the original Julian dies at sea during a storm. The original owner was from Gaya Doren in South Blue and had been fishing with his father when their boat was lost; the original Julian's lingering soul later merges with Julian after he eats the Fire Dragon Fruit. Julian inherits the original's memories and resolves to continue the Kate family line. 1 62

After reaching a deserted island, Julian consumes the Swamp-Swamp Fruit and begins a survival regimen of running, boxing, Fist Bone training, and Devil Fruit development. He decides against joining the Marines because of his opposition to the World Government and Celestial Dragons, instead intending to build an independent pirate force and seize Skypiea. 1 2

Three months later, he defeats pirate captain Nedup and recruits the surviving crew. Julian expands this force through raids, slave liberations, and the absorption of rival pirate crews, establishing a division-based fleet that later becomes the Flame Dragon Pirates. 2 7 8

Julian conquers Skypiea by overpowering the Shandia and its rulers, ending the conflict between Skypieans and Shandia people under his authority. He develops Jaya Island and Skypiea into the Flame Dragon Kingdom, later the Flame Dragon Empire, while building administrative, military, economic, and educational institutions. 73 81 82 231

Following the fall of the World Government, Julian incorporates the Marines and Revolutionary Army into his military, abolishes slavery, and declares the end of piracy. Four years later, he retires and allows Noah to become the Kirin Emperor. 459

Appearance

Julian is described as a clear-featured, red-haired young man. Later accounts depict him as tall, muscular, imposing, and notably handsome. 1 104 400

• Often wears a yellow Flame Dragon cloak bearing a golden dragon head or Flame Dragon emblem. 37 104
• Can assume mud-based elemental forms, including a towering Mud Dragon Giant Soldier. 2 7
• Uses Flame Dragon transformations, including a hundred-meter Flame Giant Dragon Form. 81
• His Fire Dragon forms are accompanied by flames and, in one form, a halo of flame. 81

Personality

Julian is ambitious, pragmatic, and intensely focused on self-improvement. From his first days on the deserted island, he prioritizes survival, retreating from unwinnable fights, and steadily building strength rather than risking everything recklessly. 1 2 17

He is a highly organized leader who rewards loyalty, trains alongside his subordinates, distributes wealth and Devil Fruits, and creates opportunities for advancement. His crew's loyalty is reinforced by his generous material support, personal encouragement, and insistence that members can leave voluntarily. 8 27 30 92

Julian presents himself as a righteous liberator of slaves and an opponent of coercion, but he is also openly opportunistic: he conducts systematic raids, steals from nobles and Celestial Dragons, manipulates public perception, and intends to exploit the World Government when advantageous. 12 39 77 88 216

His protectiveness toward his family and followers can turn ruthless when they are threatened. He also remains deeply hostile toward Momonosuke throughout the story. 356 459

Abilities & Skills

Swamp-Swamp / Earth-Earth Fruit

Julian's Logia-type mud and earth ability is variously called the Swamp-Swamp Fruit and Earth-Earth Fruit. It allows elemental transformation, manipulation of mud and earth, underground movement, storage, construction, and combat applications. 1 5

• Transforms his body or limbs into mud, avoiding ordinary attacks through elementalization. 1 14
• Creates mud weapons, including swords, spears, spikes, bullets, and machine-gun-like projectiles. 1 2
• Forms Mud Dragons and the Mud Dragon Giant Soldier for offense, movement, and intimidation. 2 7 20
• Creates heavy Earth Weight-Bearing Suits and mud-wrapped weapons for physical training. 5 23
• Stores objects, treasure, supplies, and weapons in an internal Mud Space; living people cannot be stored because they would suffocate. 5
• Moves underground through Earth Elementalization, enabling covert infiltration of palaces, treasuries, and Celestial Dragon estates. 38 45 215
• Alters land for construction, road-building, fortification, agriculture, and territorial expansion. 12 81 82 199
• Uses Mud Gravity Space and Mud Gravity Barrier to restrain opponents and intensify training. Sustained barriers consume stamina. 45 50 90
• Developed Devour and Decompose, which drags targets into a mud vortex and can decompose ordinary people into mud. 45

Flame Dragon Fruit

Julian later gains the Fire Dragon Fruit, greatly improving his endurance and granting powerful dragon transformations. 37 50

• Assumes a Fire Dragon Beastman Form for combat and high-speed travel. 45 61
• Uses a Flame Giant Dragon Form, including a hundred-meter version employed during Skypiea's conquest. 59 81
• Produces flame attacks such as Flame Fist and dragon breath. 50 358
• Developed his flame power to 19,000 degrees, making it more explosive. 296
• Revealed the Flame Emperor God of War Form before leaving Skypiea. 93

Haki

Julian develops all three major forms of Haki through prolonged training and sparring.

• Armament Haki — awakened by Chapter 58; later masters Flowing Armament Haki under Rayleigh's guidance. 58 269
• Observation Haki — trains it alongside Armament Haki and uses it for perception during infiltrations. 50 217
• Conqueror's Haki — uses it to subdue large groups, disperse the Seven Star Sword's malevolent aura, and clash with Rayleigh. 81 110 127
• Mental-power cultivation — practices Heart training and later acquires Divine Might Skill, a mental-power technique intended to strengthen Conqueror's Haki. 45 217

Martial Arts and Physical Training

Julian consistently trains his physical body, prioritizing strength, speed, stamina, and hardened fists.

• Practices boxing, Flesh Fist, Fist Bone training, and weighted-body conditioning. 1 2 62
• Uses heavy mud and specialized suits to increase training resistance. 5 12
• Masters Soru and Geppo; later trains Rankyaku as part of Marine Rokushiki. 50
• Trains in harsh, low-oxygen Skypiean conditions and Mud Gravity Space for six months. 90
• Learns Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, a body-tempering technique granting immense strength. 164

Swordsmanship

Julian eventually pursues the sword path to supplement his Devil Fruit and Haki-based combat.

• Acquires the Seven Star Sword after dispersing its malevolent aura and absorbing life orbs to unseal it. 127
• Breaks through into the Great Swordmaster realm after fifteen days of concentrated training. 281
• Forms a Sword Heart through his understanding that “I am the sword, and the sword is me.” 281

Divine Speed and Divine Concealment

Julian steals the Roswald Family's hereditary techniques from the Holy Land. 216

• Divine Speed — provides explosive bursts of movement speed; Julian compares it to instant movement and later uses it to reach endangered allies. 221 358
• Divine Concealment — acquired alongside Divine Speed from the Roswald Family's safe. 216

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Seven Star Sword — sealed demonic sword unsealed by Julian on Asca Island. 127
• Radiance — Supreme Grade golden tachi with radiant sharp slashes; retained as a Kate family heirloom. 216
• Dragon Slaying Treasure Blade — Supreme Grade saber of the Flower Country, noted for its immense weight, sharpness, and blade energy. 158
• Earth Weight-Bearing Suit — mud-made weighted clothing used for body training. 5
• Den Den Mushi — used to coordinate his fleet, communicate with officials, and negotiate with the World Government. 8 72

Relationships

• Alice — wife; reveals her first pregnancy while the crew sails toward Rockies Island and later becomes Julian's strongest wife through her Rumble-Rumble Fruit training. 36 228
• Beatrice — wife and early companion; supports Julian's family legacy and introduces Alice as a potential wife. 7 14
• Marlena — wife who welcomes Laki into Julian's household. 94
• Danylis — wife and doctor; her relationship with Julian is first suggested during discussions of life and later confirmed within his household. 45 94
• Laki — Skypiean wife and former Chief Goddess Priestess; accompanies Julian from Skypiea to Flame Dragon City. 89 94
• Stussy — lover and Lineage Factor user; Julian learns of her copied Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Devil Form abilities. 239
• Herbert — first mate and trusted officer; Julian values his dedication, trains with him, and fights alongside him against Mars Mas. 36 110 358
• Gan Fall — Great Priest and Skypiean administrator; initially wary of Julian but becomes essential to managing the City of God. 82 93
• Rayleigh — Haki instructor and sparring partner; teaches Julian about Conqueror's Haki and Flowing Armament Haki. 110 269
• Noah — descendant and eventual Kirin Emperor; Julian prepares him to inherit the throne. 459
• Ryder — eldest grandson; Julian teaches him bravery, chivalry, and the responsibilities of rulership. 459

Story Role / Major Arcs

Formation of the Mud Dragon Pirates

Julian survives on a deserted island, obtains his first Devil Fruit, defeats Nedup's crew, and begins recruiting subordinates. He absorbs the White Wolf Pirates, organizes the fleet into divisions, and establishes salaries, logistics, medical roles, and communications. 1 2 7 8

South Blue Raids and Expansion

Julian targets World Government-affiliated kingdoms, nobles, pirate crews, slave markets, and auctions for wealth, personnel, weapons, and Devil Fruits. He liberates slaves while offering them the choice to join his organization or leave. 12 30 39 45 61

Founding Flame Dragon City

After gaining territory on Jaya Island, Julian establishes civic departments, fair taxation, defense forces, infrastructure, and commercial systems. He coerces the World Government into considering his nation for membership while preparing to exploit its resources. 72 73 77

Conquest and Development of Skypiea

Julian defeats the Shandia and Skypiean leadership, rings the golden bell, and takes God Island. He renames Skypiea the Flame Dragon Heavenly Kingdom, creates the City of God, expands the land, and installs Gan Fall as its administrator. 81 82 88 93

Grand Line and Holy Land Operations

Julian trains with Rayleigh, acquires the Seven Star Sword, infiltrates Celestial Dragon estates, and steals Devil Fruits, martial skills, treasure, and the Supreme Grade tachi Radiance. 110 127 216 217

Flame Dragon Empire

Julian's growing prestige follows victories over Kaido, Shiki, Marine officers, and other powerful opponents. He ultimately topples the World Government, ends piracy and slavery under a centralized Flame Dragon Empire, then retires after Noah assumes the throne. 288 459

Notable Quotes

“When in doubt, the best strategy is to run.” 2

“I am the new god of Skypiea, the Flame Dragon God! Surrender at my feet!” 81

“With a sword in hand, all things can be cut. I am the sword, and the sword is me.” 281

Trivia

• Julian initially plans to defeat Enel and become Skypiea's god before he has even left the deserted island. 1
• He considers the ability to retreat from unwinnable battles a central survival principle. 2
• His internal Mud Space can store objects but not living people. 5
• Julian's status titles change repeatedly; Gan Fall is tasked with informing Skypieans whenever Julian changes his preferred form of address. 89 196
• He supports free love within his crew and punishes coercion under ship regulations. 12