[In the real world, war was not simply a contest of numbers. Many factors affected victory: morale, training, logistics, equipment, numbers, weather, command, and so on. But among these factors, some were primary and others secondary. The arcane was the same. You have increasingly focused on its finer applications, but you have not developed in other areas, so naturally your advancement will grow slower and slower.]
Patrick countered, "But as my research into a particular arcane discipline deepens, my actual combat ability has clearly improved."
[Studying one field in depth will indeed improve your combat ability, but that progress is slow, just like the rank that measures your overall strength. How much water a barrel can hold depends on its shortest stave, not its longest.]
"Uh, you do have a point."
Ellen's tone changed, instantly turning serious. [You have entered the Legendary rank and are now qualified to pursue the true meaning of immortality. Do not think that reaching Legendary means everything is settled. The road of arcane study is still long. You have only just earned the right to glimpse this world's secrets.]
Patrick paid it no mind and asked instead, "Then let me ask you, what rank were you back in ancient times?"
[The gulf between me and mortals is beyond your comprehension.]
Well, the longer people lived, the more they became like this. Any intelligent being that lived long enough would inevitably start recounting history, flaunting seniority, and showing off their age, dressing it up as, "I've crossed more bridges than you've walked roads; I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice," to let others know how rich their experience was and how vast their knowledge.
"Fine, I know you were a Demigod, all right? Wasn't that just because you had the Well of Eternity back then?