Just as Sprent anticipated, Aix always requested a mid-match break, and as soon as he did, an official committee was instantly formed to delve deeply into whether a break should be granted.

Some objected, stating, "There has never been such a rule, nor was it specified before the match. Granting a break now might mislead the audience, and there are never pauses on a real battlefield!"

Others supported it: "Mech combat isn't a true battlefield. Kaga has always championed 'Friendship First, Competition Second.' Not everything has to be rushed to completion; both pilots are exhausted. If a rest allows for better performance, rules can certainly be amended."

A few others remained neutral, raising a hand to suggest, "If both parties agree to a mid-match rest, perhaps this precedent can be set."

The person in charge, whose head was throbbing from the arguments, instantly perked up at this suggestion. "Everyone, quiet down for a moment. It was the Outcast team's pilot who requested the break. Now, let's connect with Pilot Peizhe of Team Fifi. If he also agrees, we'll let them rest for five minutes before resuming."

A staff member immediately activated Peizhe's voice system. Given that both sides were still locked in fierce combat, the staff kept the conversation brief: "Mr. Peizhe, since the opposing side has requested a rest, do you consent to a five-minute mid-match break?"

Peizhe, currently gritting his teeth so hard his lips were bleeding, heard the voice and a sliver of clarity returned to his mind. He instinctively replied, "Yes!"

The person in charge smiled towards the still-debating crowd. "Since both parties are willing to rest, we are now informing the public: pilots will take a five-minute break and then resume the fight."

When the announcer relayed this news to the public, the stands erupted. As the mechs were teleported out of the arena, the spectators frantically rushed towards the restrooms, many exclaiming as they ran, "A mid-match break is a lifesaver; my bladder was about to explode!"

Those nearby chuckled at the commotion.

The audience had been required to enter half an hour early. Twenty minutes of PK combat wasn't excessively long, but some people inevitably drank too much water when nervous, and their kidneys just weren't up to par, leading to this predicament.

After being teleported out of the arena, the mechs remained separated, each pilot isolated. Aix disembarked from his machine, and the Outcast team members couldn't help but stand up.

He looked utterly miserable.

His entire front and back were drenched, as if he'd just been pulled from water. He could barely stand as he stepped out and sat in a chair. After a minute, he finally managed to catch his breath.

Seeing him in this state, the others dared not disturb him, simply sitting quietly beside him.

He noticed Sprent was nowhere in sight, which struck him as odd, but he had too little time to dwell on it. "I'm going to the restroom to wash my face," he said.

In the official office, Lingyin jumped for joy upon hearing the mid-match break announcement. She grabbed Bobo, who had come out to find her, and hurried back. When they reached the lounge and found no one there, she exclaimed, "Where is he?"

Li Chunyu poured some water, replying, "He stepped out to the restroom temporarily."

Just then, Aix returned. Li Chunyu quickly handed him the water. Aix downed a glass in one go, instantly feeling refreshed. He turned to Ziye and asked, "How do you think I should fight next?"

Lingyin shrugged at Bobo, and the two sat down nearby to listen.

How to proceed had always been a discussion between the twins and Ziye, but unfortunately, Sprent had vanished somewhere.

Five minutes wasn't much time; three minutes had already passed. She couldn't go out searching for him now.

Ziye pondered aloud, "The drug's effect only lasts half an hour. You've already pushed through twenty minutes. With this five-minute break, you'll only have fifteen minutes of the drug's efficacy left. If you can endure that stretch, you should secure the victory. If you plan an offensive, launching a brilliant assault is certainly possible."

Aix worried, "What if he injects again?"

Ziye shook his head. "He can't inject again. Three injections of XX5 poison will cause over thirty percent neural damage. He just took one less than half an hour ago. A further injection now would surely push the damage past fifty percent, causing him to go mad before he can last another thirty minutes."

Aix was about to say something more when the broadcast suddenly sounded: "The five-minute rest period is over. Both pilots, please board your mechs immediately."

Aix stood up, grasped Ziye's hand, and strode toward his mech.

Ziye watched him enter his mech and be teleported onto the battlefield, letting out a long, slow breath.

Sprent walked back in from outside. Seeing everyone anxiously watching the massive screen as the broadsword-shaped mech was teleported into the arena, he said nothing, sitting down silently next to Ziye.

Lingyin chided him, "Why are you back so late? Aix is already on the field; he even looked back for you just now."

Sprent murmured softly, "I apologize."

Bobo quickly pulled Lingyin back. "It's okay, she's just too nervous."

Sprent shook his head, straightened up, and looked at the main screen.

When the fight resumed, the state of both fighters had changed dramatically. Aix immediately launched a frontal counterattack upon entering, while Peizhe's condition seemed much steadier, and his hit accuracy had unexpectedly improved significantly.

Sprent grew a bit tense. "He didn't again, did he...?"

Without him saying the rest, Ziye understood what he meant.

Ziye theorized, "Probably not. If he injected again, he likely would have gone completely insane by now."

Sprent was confused. "Then what exactly is it?"

Ziye wasn't knowledgeable about medicine, so he nudged Lingyin. "Is there any way to calm a person who is in a frenzied state?"

Lingyin answered without hesitation, "A sedative?"

Ziye relayed to Sprent, "Perhaps it's these."

Lingyin immediately became animated. "Are you saying Peizhe injected a sedative? No way, shouldn't he be taking a booster now?"

Ziye didn't tell Lingyin about the XX5 situation. Instead, he said plainly that Peizhe might have injected a stimulant.

He did this to avoid Lingyin pressing him on how he knew about XX5, and more importantly, to stop her from tracing the issue back to the lost batch of medicine from Fia.

After Tang Wen exposed that the Queen-type mech had stolen the supplies, although it was stated to be a Star Federation mech, certain interested parties had been scrutinizing Sprout. If this matter were uncovered, it would surely lead to more tears and blood.

Furthermore, Wolf's Den had received notification to attend the Legion Leader Summit convened by the Unification Department next month, where a vote would be held on whether Wolf's Den could become a sovereign legion. At such a critical juncture, no more problems could afford to surface.

Ziye countered, "Don't you think he might have overdosed on the stimulant earlier? It's quite normal for him to need calming down now."

Lingyin stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Too much stimulant injection? Emma, that could easily be fatal!"

Ziye hastily covered her mouth. "Don't say it out loud; let's just keep watching."

Ziye’s guess was close to the truth.

Peizhe had indeed injected something again, but it wasn't a sedative; it was a painkiller. Only by eliminating the pain could he achieve true calmness.

With the mid-match break, this fight should have been his sure victory, but he hadn't expected the opponent to have swapped personnel...

-RS