Around 35,000 years before Book 1, Cydbwysedd became the first Man of Light and Shadow, beginning a cycle that would ensure peace all across the South Galaxy for the next 33,000 or so years. Even with this measure in place, the Gods wanted to ensure that Shadow Magic would never fall into the wrong hands again. To do this, they created 4 beetles: Snjor, Dahan, Khepri, and Luyum. They sent each beetle to one of the 4 planets most associated with Shadow Magic: Snjor went to Ryu 108, where Jörmungandr lay in eternal sleep. Khepri went to Eaglypt, where Shadow Magic was first learned by mortals. Dahan went to Rahasy, which has an unusually strong connection to Shadow Magic due to its position at the center of the South Galaxy. Finally, Luyum went to Vigam, where the Original Six first met. Each beetle also had powers over an element: Snjor had ice, Dahan had fire, Khepri had earth, and Luyum had water. For the next 35,000 years, these beetles would lie sleeping in isolated locations, waiting for someone who wanted to misuse Shadow Magic to strike. However, each beetle can only fight the same person once because Zeus slurred a line in the incantation while creating them. After the Pawsian Wars, during which the Man of Light and Shadow was abolished, The Gods returned to the beetles and directed them now to attack ANYONE on their planets trying to use Shadow Magic, not just those wanting to abuse it. During his attempt to learn Shadow Magic and rewrite the galaxy, Tate encountered Snjor, Dahan, and Khepri but not Dahan because he did not remain on Rahasy for long enough. He defeated all the beetles he encountered, but killed none of them since they are immortal. During his travels across the South Galaxy, Weasel was also forced to fight the beetles, but he had to face all four of them due to his stay on Rahasy. Once Weasel became the Man of Light and Shadow at the end of the war, the Beetles were directed not to attack the Man of Light and Shadow.