Advanced Acting Technique?
Luke had just unlocked his first non-master-level skill.
Was it because his Strength stat was only 15, while his Agility had already reached 20?
[When the host's Strength reaches 20 points, this skill will automatically upgrade to Master-level Acting Technique.]
The system's response appeared instantly, and a flood of knowledge rushed into Luke's mind.
Posture, expression control, body language — every essential aspect of acting appeared vividly in his head. In that moment, Luke gained the skill set of a seasoned veteran.
Of course, compared to a Master-level skill, this "Advanced" version was a step down — but even so, it was already more than enough.
After all, the so-called "Best Actor" level in Hollywood wasn't much beyond this point anyway.
Now that he had both Master-level Line Delivery and Advanced Acting Technique, those awkward scenes back in Jurassic Park III could've been completely avoided.
In fact, he could probably surprise everyone — show them that action stars can act too.
[Host's Constitution detected: 15. Host gains: Advanced Acting Insight.]
Wait — there was more?
Another message popped up in front of him.
An actor's craft isn't just about technique or delivery — insight is just as vital.
Knowing how to portray a scene — which emotion, which rhythm, which choice fits best — that's the difference between an amateur and a true artist.
Some actors gain this insight by studying classic films, others through spontaneous inspiration on set, and some by diving deep into theory books.
All that accumulated experience, intuition, aesthetic sense, and emotional understanding — it was all condensed into the Advanced Acting Insight now streaming into Luke's consciousness.
At that moment, Luke's grasp of performance theory reached an expert level.
Line delivery, acting technique, and artistic insight — the three pillars of performance. Together, they formed a complete acting system for him.
And this upgrade didn't just make him better at "dramatic" scenes.
Even in action sequences, he could now blend his physical prowess with emotional expression — infusing each punch, dodge, and glare with a character's inner turmoil.
No longer would his characters wear a single fixed expression — he could now portray confusion, pain, joy, rage, or despair with depth and realism.
A true all-around improvement.
[When both Acting Technique and Acting Insight reach Master level, they will merge with Master-level Line Delivery to create a new combined skill.]
Luke wasn't surprised. Ever since fusing his martial arts skills before, he'd realized something: True mastery meant integration.
To grow stronger, he needed to blend disciplines — to keep evolving through synthesis.
And just as he was feeling proud of his new abilities, a storm was already brewing outside his world.
Mike Tyson, who had just turned thirty-five, sat at home being interviewed by Fox News.
Though long past his prime, the heavyweight boxing legend was still one of the most famous athletes alive.
"Congratulations on another clean victory yesterday — you've got everyone's attention again," the reporter said.
"Really? Seems like everyone's more into that GG commercial lately," Tyson scoffed. "Can't believe it's getting more buzz than my fights."
"Do you have any thoughts on that on-screen couple, Mr. Tyson?"
"Oh no, no issues at all with the lovely Miss Anne. Who could dislike a woman as beautiful and elegant as her? I adore her — hell, I'd even drink her bathwater," Tyson said with a sleazy grin, making a disgusting slurp sound.
The reporter instinctively cringed.
That sound alone made him want to shove the mic down Tyson's throat. But he knew exactly what Tyson was doing — saying outrageous things to grab headlines, trying to claw his way back into the spotlight.
"So what exactly bothers you, then?" the reporter asked carefully.
"That yellow-skinned monkey," Tyson sneered. "He thinks just because he's been in a few movies, he deserves to be paired with Miss Anne? Look at him — he doesn't belong next to a woman like her. I would be a much better match."
The reporter was stunned.
A Black man using a racial slur for an Asian actor — did he even hear himself?
"Yellow monkey," "white pig," "n-word" — all racial slurs, all deeply offensive. If anyone — especially a celebrity — said something like that in public, a media firestorm was guaranteed.
Seriously, you — with that mug of yours — think you're better-looking than Luke?
And what delusion made you think Anne Hathaway would ever go for you?
"The worst part," Tyson went on angrily, "is that Luke actually violated her!"
"What?"
"The kissing scene! I'm sure he forced it. Poor Anne — having to let that yellow monkey kiss her. It must've been a nightmare."
When that interview aired, it set off an instant media explosion.
Headlines flooded the internet:
"Yellow-White Couple? Don't Let This Distorted Aesthetic Corrupt Our Eyes!" "Beware the Capitalist Manipulation of Our Beauty Standards!" "Who Will Save the Poor Princess?" "The Dark Side Behind a Fairytale Love Story!"
Most of these couldn't be printed in mainstream papers — but they still struck a nerve, especially among a certain group of old white men.
Thankfully, not everyone was against Luke. His striking looks and growing fanbase from three major films earned him plenty of defenders too.
"A real prince is defined by his heart, not his skin color!" "He's a true hero — if you've never seen his films, you don't deserve to judge him!" "Who even are you to criticize someone we all love?"
Under Eisen's direction, several media outlets began countering the smear campaign, sparking a fierce public debate.
Luke sat calmly at his desk, scrolling through the heated arguments online.
He'd expected this.
This was the backlash of entrenched prejudice — the resistance of those protecting their status quo. It was inevitable.
But better to face controversy than obscurity.
Then, a fresh headline popped up on his screen.
The same reporter who'd interviewed Tyson was now standing in front of Anne Hathaway, asking in a serious tone:
"Mr. Tyson said you were forced to film that kissing scene. Is that true?"
It was a cunning, malicious question.
No matter how Anne answered, she'd offend someone.
If she said no, she'd anger the white male audience:
"So you actually like Asian men?" "Do you realize being paired with a Asian actor hurts your image?" "We put you on a pedestal, and this is how you repay us?"
But if she said yes, she'd betray the truth, her conscience — and she'd throw Luke to the wolves.
She'd alienate Eisen, Luke's powerful backer, and enrage countless fans who adored the pair.
Anne Hathaway clearly understood the trap.
She paused, thinking carefully — then gave her answer.