Avan
In the short running giving up is guaranteed better because then he can fight at near peak strength next round but is more detrimental long term the force of will to never give in will be appreciated by at least a few of the grand magus and given this is a audition as much as a competition talent isn’t always enough sometimes it is the mentality of an individual that attracts attention. plus he won’t have many opportunities to have an all out battle with not only someone superior but also the standard of how good someone can be in his age range and how good he could become given enough luck, opportunity, and effort or at least much closer to that level.