'Trap or not, it doesn't matter.'
Did understanding the cause behind this matter at all?
Even if it wasn't just speculation, even If Damian knew for a fact that slowing down his growth would have removed this forced encounter, the answer would still be no! He wouldn't change a thing.
The same could be said about the battlefield. Even if he was somehow able to realize it was a trap before entering, Nothing would have changed for Damian.
It wasn't like he could simply ignore the trap blocking his way, there was no way Damian would give up on progressing through the Labyrinth just because of a tough opponent.
'There is no point saving this.'
Wasn't this exactly why Damian continued training his skills despite having no urgent need for them?
[ Agility +1 ]
He might not welcome a fight that brought about the possibility of dying from body explosion, but...
'Bring it on!'