"Potential...."Gray slowly rubbed his chin. "Truthfully, even I don't understand much about this esoteric concept. But what I know, though, should suffice.

"Have you ever wondered how Solaris became so strong he was able to take on the entire continent? Have you ever wondered how you and Keilan are so strong you're practically unmatched against other Spirit lords? Why are you both capable of punching above your weight class?

"Potential, that's what. What differentiates you, Keilan, and Solaris from the other Spirit lords is the quality of potential you amounted, and how you earned it.

"Potential is one of the single most important concepts that relies entirely on merit; the more effort you put in, the better its quality when you eventually earn it. I don't know much about Solaris' past, but knowing the broad view of how he took and rebuilt what is now known as the 'Solarian Empire', I can safely assume that he worked tooth and nail for that power. He put in his blood and sweat, and those of others, though forcefully taken, to become what he is today: one of the most powerful warriors to have ever walked the planet.

"You and Keilan, on the other hand, survived an impossible ordeal. There is a reason why even the most powerful of nobles with expertly trained scions still require a powerful guardian to be in attendance during a Proto-space expedition meant to level said scions.

"Proto-spaces, to give a brief overview, are unpredictable. You could think yourself safe enough if you only keep to the zone you're most powerful in, and then all of a sudden," Gray snapped his tiny fingers. "A higher realm monster, for one rare reason, comes badging into the zone."

"I thought that was impossible?" Damien frowned.

Gray shook his head. "It is rare, but not unheard of. The fact that there are zones to isolate the different realms of monsters doesn't mean the monsters have to adhere to them. It all comes down to potential."

"Too bad your great potential couldn't help you against Brunos," Keilan snickered.

"He cheated!" Damien protested.

"Okay, how?"

"I mean... I don't know, yet. But I'll find out." He swore.

"Just accept it, Dame. You lost. Brunos beat you at your own drinking competition."

Damien was about to retort when Gray interrupted. "Will you both stop acting like children, for once?!"

Damien fumed but kept his mouth shut. He did give Keilan the stink eye, though, for good measure.

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"Thank you! Now as I was saying." Gray continued. "The more powerful, compared to you, a creature is, the more potential you gain, and with a better quality, too. Even monsters understand it, that is why a majority of them choose not to go down a tier, but up.

"By surviving and thriving in a Proto space for months, the sheer quantity and quality of potential you both gained would be more than enough to stave off any draw backs you would have accumulated from your years of speed leveling.

"Speed leveling?" Damien asked.

"Yes, speed leveling. Nobody is supposed to grow this fast without acquiring a weight on their soul from all the excess potential and not enough soul strength to absorb it. Most people who participate in speed leveling like this always slow down at some point to bleed off their momentum and give their soul time enough to finish absorbing the excess potential."

"That was why you wanted me to absorb that orb construct you came along with," Damien said, realization dawning.

"Yes," Gray smiled. "That was until I perused your memories and saw that you wouldn't need it."

"Soul enhancers, for lack of a better term, upgrade the soul. They passively enhance your soul so that you won't stall ever again. Unlike you, Keilan would have eventually stalled. But you... Let's just say, due to your unique origins, you have a better soul than most."

Damien immediately leaned forward, eager. "Tell me more."

Gray grinned. "Ohhh, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

"You both spent the entirety of half your teenage life in a Proto-space, ascending the zones. The sheer qualitative benefits alone were probably enough to remove any stall effects.

"What about Solaris, is he also like us?"

"I doubt that," Gray answered. "Like I said, you both survived the impossible, without any outside assistance from any greater being. Solaris, talented as he is, did not go through the same ordeal. The potential he gathered was probably enough to see him through to Spirit King, and I'm sure he's still carrying a soul weight, right now. But as long as he hasn't bled off the excess potential, he isn't advancing anywhere."

"Wait! So he isn't going to advance ever again?"

"Hold on," Keilan interrupted. "What do you mean by 'outside assistance from any greater being?'"

"I did not say he isn't going to advance again, just that his advancement will be stalled for the foreseeable future, probably at least a hundred years. To a Spirit King, that's just a weekend.

"And yes, I meant exactly what you're thinking. The reason you earned the quality of potential you have was because there wasn't anyone more powerful to hog all the greater benefits. A higher realm being needs more quality and quantity of potential than you. So even if they provide the smallest of assistance in your monster hunting expedition, they're automatically granted benefits sufficient enough for them. Even if it is the least of what they can be granted, it is still a fortune to you."

Keilan then spoke Damien's mind. "Aren't you a higher being?"

"Yes," Gray sighed. "And now we get to the reason for all this: I cannot help you any longer."

"What?"

"I mean, aside from the passive upgrades to his senses Damien benefits, I will no longer render any assistance during your battles."

"You do know that our fighting capabilities would reduce drastically if you aren't there to offer insights into the enemy's techniques?"

"Yes," Gray admitted. "But not as much as the detriment to your future growth if I keep holding your hands through every battle. You will keep growing, regardless of any help I choose not to render. And any knowledge you require into the fighting capabilities of your enemies can be offered before or after the battle, not during.”