the mech's aware of how much time is left in an episode. why would it kill all the entertainment possible by DEM'ing the fight if it's got good time before that happens? when time's low it's shown to DEM to make sure it could wrap it up with delicious content filled robot action. that's pretty much the entire point of i win buttons there. if the fight ain't gonna be long or flashy no reason they wouldn't be the ones available/pressed. if it is, then there'd be other button presses until that point. or it'd just win outright but really same principle. they ain't gonna ruin a good half hour by finishing a fight in a minute for the show, but if the fight's only got a minute left, well, it'd be a quick minute.
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The future must protect the clone's past.
"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.