Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm Chapter 564 - 563: In Character… What a Noble Spirit This Is

Martin stood face to face with Ben Affleck.

This scene was the one where Batman, driven by rage, violently interrogates the Joker.

Martin asked considerately, "How about it, Ben? Can you go through with it? Don’t worry, just hit as hard as you need—I can take it!"

As he spoke, he unconsciously licked his lips.

Ben Affleck shuddered inwardly, frantically chanting to himself: I’m Batman, I’m Batman, I’m Batman...

After a while, his eyes regained their determination, and he gave a firm nod. "I’m good, Martin!"

"Scene 22, take 16—action!"

Martin sat quietly in a chair, thin and composed, like a student listening to a morning lecture—if you ignored his face, that is.

Ben Affleck, clad in full Batman armor, stepped forward one stride at a ti. The shadow cast by his imposing fra fell over Martin, engulfing him in darkness.

His face was obscured by the cowl, only his jaw visible beneath the mask.

And yet, even with most of his face hidden, his expression was solemn.

This was just a fight scene, and yet Ben Affleck looked like he was heading to an execution.

The closer he got to Martin, the more hesitant his steps beca. The intensity he had just summoned through self-hypnosis was rapidly unraveling.

Martin seed to notice this and suddenly looked up, flashing Ben a devilish smile.

For so reason, a surge of fury welled up in Ben’s chest. This guy—humiliating him, suppressing him, overshadowing him for so long—wasn’t this the perfect mont for revenge?

Whoosh!

Veins bulged under the mask. His fists clenched and swung out.

Martin watched the berserk Ben Affleck lunge toward him and slowly withdrew his smile, face returning to calm. Even a full-strength punch from a human—yes, even soone as physically powerful as Ben Affleck—felt like a tickle to him now.

Christopher Nolan stared at the monitor.

Onscreen, Ben Affleck stord toward Martin, arms swinging, muscles tense, eyes blazing with fury beneath the cowl.

"Whoa!"

He let out a low whistle.

Today, Ben’s acting was on fire—this was the first ti he wasn’t totally overshadowed by Martin in a scene.

Was this a breakthrough?

Excellent. Glorious breakthrough!

Ben’s gloved fist ca down like a hamr, slamming into Martin’s face.

Under Martin’s influence, that punch wasn’t just for show—it was the real deal. No pulling back, no faking.

Martin didn’t dodge, didn’t flinch. He simply let the blow land.

The cinematographer sensed sothing was off and whispered to Nolan, "It looks like Ben’s really hitting him. Should we stop the take?"

Nolan hesitated, glancing at Martin—just in ti to see the Joker lying on the ground looking calmly back at him.

He understood imdiately.

"Keep rolling! Ben’s fully in character. Martin hasn’t called a stop either—keep shooting!"

Then he added, admiringly, "Martin is such a professional."

Behind him, Jonathan nodded subtly—clearly, that line was going in the press kit.

Under the flurry of violent blows, Martin’s face wore a calm smile. Only a faint twitch in his cheek revealed the "pain" he was enduring.

Professional—so incredibly professional!

That’s what everyone on set thought.

anwhile, Ben Affleck was screaming inside, Stop! Stop! What the hell am I doing?!

But he couldn’t stop himself. It was as if that strange rage had split his mind in two.

Finally—

"Cut!"

The mont the director yelled, Ben found control over his body again and stopped imdiately.

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect!"

Nolan was trembling with excitent as he watched the monitor—the Joker taking the beating with eerie calm. This, he felt, might beco the most extraordinary superhero film in history.

Immortalized in film history... film history...

He muttered the words under his breath.

"Chris, call a doctor. Let’s get Martin checked," Jonathan whispered.

Snapping out of his trance, Nolan called out, "Doctor! Doctor—"

"I’m fine!" Martin stood up with a grin. "I can really take a hit!"

At that mont, he moved everyone on set. Their fear of "the Joker" was lting away.

"I’m so sorry, Martin—truly sorry!" Ben Affleck was pale with panic. "I didn’t an to! I don’t know what happened—I just couldn’t stop myself!"

Martin patted him on the shoulder, smiling. "It’s alright—you were in character. That’s a good thing. Keep that energy up! Really, don’t worry about it. I loved what you did back there."

"R-really?"

Ben lowered his head...

Martin’s generosity filled him with both sha and admiration.

Before the doctor arrived, Martin had already cald Ben down.

The examination results brought a collective sigh of relief—other than so bruises and swelling, Martin was completely fine.

"See? Told you—I can take a beating," Martin said with a smile.

Everyone looked at him like he was a saint.

At that mont, in their eyes, Martin was nothing short of heroic.

...

Later, in Martin’s New York apartnt—

Anne Hathaway lay breathless, tugging the covers around herself.

Suddenly rembering the rumors she’d heard that day, she asked, "Martin... did Ben Affleck really beat you up?"

She hadn’t been on set at the ti.

Martin smiled. "Yep."

"He what?!" Anne sat up in outrage. "And Nolan didn’t stop him?!"

Martin said, "It’s fine. I’ve got a body of steel. There’s no way he could really hurt . Besides, I saw he’d fully imrsed himself in the role, so I signaled Nolan to keep rolling."

"You’re really okay?" Anne asked, eyes wide.

"Of course! Didn’t my performance just now prove it?" Martin replied with a wicked grin.

Anne’s cheeks flushed.

Thinking back to how she’d just begged for rcy monts ago, she felt suddenly shy.

She slipped into Martin’s arms like a fish, whining and purring in a fit of playful affection.

The next day, when Martin returned to the set, he noticed everyone’s attitude had changed.

Even after he got back into his Joker makeup, their warmth didn’t fade.

Clearly, yesterday’s performance had earned their respect.

Everyone knew Martin had once beaten Ben Affleck in a real fight. They also knew just how terrifying his combat skills were.

And yet, just for the sake of a good scene, Martin had let an "out-of-control" Ben Affleck beat him up—without striking back, without dodging—just to make sure they got the shot.

What a noble spirit that was!!!