Well, it provides power. I'm...not really sure how a Kyber crystal works. It doesn't make the same noise as one, that's for sure.

But an HEC gives a lot of power boost, which helps keep a hardlight weapon solid enough to hold a shape and an edge.

[Carefully, Donnie gives Anila's lightsaber a few test swings, but it's clear he's not that used to using a sword, and coupled with the slight resistance, the movements aren't very smooth.

He shuts it off, looking at it before he holds the hilt back out to her.]