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{{Nihongo|'''Ability Body Crystal''' or '''Crystallized Esper Essence'''|能力体結晶|Nōryoku-tai Kesshō}} or simply {{Nihongo|'''Body Crystal'''|体晶|Taishō|lit. "Body Crystal"|yenpress = '''Crystals'''}}, also known as {{Nihongo|'''Nectar'''|{{Ruby|神の飲み物|ネクター}}}}, is a drug that is used to induce an esper to overload, allowing them to temporarily gain power if they are espers that can only activate their powers if they are overloaded.<ref name=IndexV15Ch4Pt5>{{Qvl|Index|L|15}} Chapter 4 Part 5</ref>

It was originally created and overseen by [[Kihara Gensei]] as a means to achieve [[SYSTEM]].<ref name=RailgunEp22>{{Qal|Railgun|E|22}}</ref>

==Appearance==
[[File:Ability_Body_Crystal.png|thumb|220px|The First Sample of the crystal.]]
The First Sample of the crystal originally looked like a small red crystalline prism.

In a later incarnation, it becomes a fine white powder. In the ''Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S'' anime however, it is depicted as a white chewable tablet.<ref name=RailgunSEp9>{{Qal|Railgun2|E|9}}</ref>

==Principles==
<!--GT3 Note{{TrackTag24|}}-->
===Concept and Creation===
According to Gensei in his presentation to other [[Academy City]] researchers, overloaded espers (espers who has lost control of their powers) form abnormal synapses within their cerebral cortex. A large variety of neurotransmitters and hormones are secreted in unusual quantities. This crystallized esper essence is the product of collecting, refining and purifying those secretions.<ref name=RailgunEp22/>

Theoretically, applying the crystallized esper essence to selected espers, one can achieve SYSTEM or level 6. Exposing the crystal to overloaded espers with the same ability, and to another esper who has the same ability and can achieve higher levels of power when exposed to certain factors (such as [[Haruue Erii]]<ref name=RailgunEp21>{{Qal|Railgun|E|21}}</ref>), one can cause an [[AIM Diffusion Field Resonance]] thereby causing the resonance to power-up the esper, allowing the achievement of a level 6. However, such a case would cause undesirable effects to the espers, and to the surroundings as a consequence of creating a [[Poltergeist]] is likely.<ref name=RailgunEp24>{{Qal|Railgun|E|24}}</ref>

===Mechanics===
The original First Sample was red and crystalline, and required an entire laboratory on its own with biopods for it to properly expose an esper, specifically, [[Haruue Erii]], with the right frequency using the crystal. Although, this can be assumed to be because Therestina wanted to use runaway espers to induce an AIM Diffusion Field Resonance with Erii, and that normal exposure or intake of the crystal results in an overloading of the esper in question.<ref name=RailgunEp24/>

Later, with the powdery version of the crystal, it only requires for an esper susceptible to it, like [[Takitsubo Rikou]], to lick it for it to overload her.<ref name=IndexV15Ch4Pt2>{{Qvl|Index|L|15}} Chapter 4 Part 2</ref>  In the ''Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S'' anime, they are turned into tablets and must be ingested for it to be used.<ref name=RailgunSEp9/>

Regardless, if one is exposed to the crystal, it would cause the esper's ability to overload, as with the case of the Child Errors experimented on by Gensei.<ref name=RailgunEp11>{{Qal|Railgun|E|11}}</ref>

==Background==
===First Sample===
[[File:Toaru_Kagaku_no_Railgun_E24_00m_14s.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Therestina as the first test subject for the crystal.]]{{TrackTag60}}With the intent of achieving SYSTEM, Kihara Gensei uses his own granddaughter, [[Therestina Kihara Lifeline|Therestina]], as the first test subject for the crystal, known as the ''First Sample''.<ref name=RailgunEp24/> It is unknown what results were drawn out of the experiment were, though it is safe to assume that the experiment encourage Gensei even further into perfecting the crystal. Therestina lived through the experiment, but it is also unknown what effects the experiment had on her; it is known that even though she was used in the experiment, she still continued to support her grandfather, even helping him in his research as an assistant.<ref name=RailgunEp23>{{Qal|Railgun|E|23}}</ref> Before the events of episode 24 of the anime, Therestina has gained possession of the First Sample, the same crystal that was created from her.<ref name=RailgunEp24/>

===Kihara's presentation to Academy City researchers===
Some time later, Kihara Gensei gives a presentation on the crystal to the city's academic community. Here, he explains how it was made and how it can be used to achieve the goal of SYSTEM. He receives the suspicion of [[Heaven Canceller]], one of Academy City's most influential doctors, who asks him if the crystal can truly achieve level 6, which Gensei assures him it would. Heaven Canceller also asks him how many victims have been sacrificed to create the crystal, which Gensei says that there were no victims in his tests.<ref name=RailgunEp21/>

===Exposure of Crystallized Esper Essence on Child Errors Experiment===
====Beginnings====
Gensei had control over the [[Advanced Education Department]], wanting to use the Child Errors there as experimental samples for his crystal.<ref name=RailgunEp22 />

The experiment was officially called the {{Nihongo|'''AIM Diffusion Field Control Experiment'''|AIM拡散力場制御実験|Eimu Kakusan-ryoku-ba Seigyo Jikken}} to the public.<ref name=RailgunEp11 /> As with its name, it was supposedly an experiment to control the AIM diffusion fields of the esper. However, the experiment also had another name {{Nihongo|'''Experiment on the Analysis of the Laws of Induced Explosions on Runaway Espers'''|暴走能力の法則解析用誘爆実験|Bōsō Nōryoku no Hōsoku Kaiseki-yō Yūbaku Jikken|Yen Press: '''Explosion Experiment for Analyzing Runaway Ability Laws'''}} to lead away investigations regarding the true nature of the experiment with exposing them with the Crystallized Esper Essence. Here, the experiment's goal was to search for the trigger for overloading AIM diffusion fields in espers.<ref name=RailgunEp11 />

He hires one of the researchers, [[Kiyama Harumi]], to prepare the children for him for the experiment as a teacher to them.<ref name=RailgunEp11 />

====The experiment====
The experiment goes as planned, however the Child Errors goes into an indefinite comatose state after having their abilities overloaded by the crystal, Gensei forces everyone in the research team to gather data instead and them to keep quiet of what transpired in the department. Harumi is appalled by the experiment and quits shortly after, the comatose children are then sent to various medical institutions for treatment, but are unable to recover from their comatose state.<ref name=RailgunEp22 />

====Aftermath====
From then on Gensei disappeared, continually trying to perfect they crystal and make adjustments on it, though, Therestina refers to his action as useless.<ref name=RailgunEp24 />

Somehow a fine powder version of the crystal became available in the dark side of Academy City, though, its creation is credited to Kihara Gensei and Therestina Kihara Lifeline in the experiments that created the Crystallized Esper Essence.<ref name=Fanfare>[[Toaru Jihanki no Fanfare]]</ref>

==Chronology==
===Toaru Kagaku no Railgun===
====Poltergeist Arc====
{{Main/Poltergeist Arc}}
The Crystallized Esper Essence is not mentioned until {{Qal|Railgun|E|22|episode 22}} of the ''Toaru Kagaku no Railgun'' anime; here, Kiyama Harumi reveals to [[Misaka Mikoto]], that the experiment on the Child Errors on analysing the overloading of esper abilities, was a ruse as to discretely test the crystal on the children. Harumi also states that she is looking for the First Sample, a vital part in helping her students recover from their comatosed state, without them causing another [[Poltergeist]] Incident.

When [[Therestina Kihara Lifeline|Therestina's]] true identity is discovered by branch 177 of [[Judgment]], Misaka Mikoto confronts Therestina herself. After being defeated by Therestina, she reveals to Mikoto on continuing his grandfather's work on achieving level 6, and mockingly give thanks to her for finding the comatosed children for her.

In the {{Qal|Railgun|E|24|final episode}}, it is revealed that Therestina has the First Sample of the crystal in her hands, and planned to use Haruue Erii, along with the comatosed children of Kiyama Harumi, to cause an AIM Diffusion Field Resonance, allowing Haruue Erii's power to be boosted by the crystal, and finally achieving level 6. Her plan is stopped by Mikoto, [[Uiharu Kazari]], [[Shirai Kuroko]] and [[Saten Ruiko]], as the effects of her experiment would destroy Academy City. After being defeated, Kiyama Harumi uses the First Sample to finally wake her students.

====Sisters Arc====
{{Main/Sisters Arc}}
[[File:Body_Crystal.png|thumb|130px|right||A box of powder-form Body Crystal.]]
During {{DCp|Item}}'s take down attempt on [[Misaka Mikoto]], [[Mugino Shizuri]] tasks [[Takitsubo Rikou]] to find her using her AIM Stalker, and has her use the Body Crystal. With her power activated, Mikoto is bombarded by Mugino's Meltdowner beam with terrific accuracy thanks to Rikou. Mikoto was only spared by the onslaught after Mugino realizes that she is dealing with Mikoto and would rather defeat her on her own.

===Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator===
====Nectar Arc====
{{Main/Nectar Arc}}
===Toaru Majutsu no Index===
====Academy City Invasion Arc====
{{Main/Academy City Invasion Arc}}
During [[Yomikawa Aiho]] and [[Accelerator]]'s talk, the narration references the experiment on the analysis of the laws of induced explosions on runaway espers as one of the many experiments that are conducted in the city to [[Child Error]]{{TrackTag51}}s.

====Battle Royale Arc====
{{Main/Battle Royale Arc}}
Rikou using the Body Crystal against {{DCp|Item}}'s enemies and being forced to by Mugino, forces Shiage's hand against Mugino, as Rikou's body continues to deteriorate every time she uses the crystal.

Here, [[Kakine Teitoku]] references the experiment on the analysis of the laws of induced explosions on runaway espers.

====World War III Arc====
{{Main/World War III Arc}}
===Toaru Anbu no Item===
====Honey Queen Arc====
{{Main/Honey Queen Arc}}{{UncertainPositioning/PastArc|Not finalized}}
{{Expand|Item V2<ref name=ItemV2>{{Qvl|Item|L|2}}</ref><!--Takitsubo/Mugino-->}}

==Trivia==
*40% of the medical papers about Body Crystal came from labs funded by Sukunabikona Pharmaceutical.<ref name=AccelCh51>{{Qcl|Accel|51}}</ref>

==See Also==
*[[Academy City Level 6 Experiments]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Academy City Technology]]