The Shiba defeated the Gode Collective, but victory came at a price. While successful in its genetic alteration, the Zenith Serum had a side effect. It created significant physical alterations in the Shiba and resulted in a new lineage that came to be known as the Mutant Shibas.
Initially, the Mutant Shibas were celebrated and revered. But over time, they were shunned by society due to their altered appearance. Some mutants celebrated their differences, but others were set on reverting to pre-serum conditions. Conflict ensued. The Balavrak had already witnessed the power the Zenith Serum bestowed, now they were watching the conflict it could wreak within the Shiba family. The Balavrak realized that often perfection lies within imperfection. Fearing for the future of all Shibas, they took action.
A key component in the creation of Zenith Serum was the Astatine Crystal. In a secret ceremony, the Balavrak shattered the crystal into seven fragments. These fragments were then hidden in treacherous locations across the planet, an attempt to dissuade anyone ever reuniting the seven fragments again, an effort to banish the Zenith Serum forever.
For generations, attempts were made to find these seven crystal fragments. Many died in their attempts, but few were successful. Six of the crystal fragments were found, and a rumor spread across the planet that the seventh and final crystal fragment had been located.
