hmmmm skull eater = blowfish (blue magic you can learn from lamia in the ronka ruins) for leveling up, i find that the grassy area near where you fight ramuh is a fantastic place. good exp and ab (and once you get ramuh, make the monsters feel his wrath :P) as for kimabrain, ummmmm i dont ever remember having a problem with him. have you tried using your newly aquired titan?