Infinity, The Arcade Age

World Name: Captain Hook - Act 1

Difficulty Level: D

Number of Participants: 5 (Increased to 8 due to external interference)

Primary Objective: Participate in the defeat of Act 1 Boss: The Evil Fat Chef.

Reward for Completion: 2,000 points, 2 free attribute points

Failure Penalty: -2,000 points

Optional Objective: Independently defeat three elite-level enemies (0/3)

Reward for Completion: 1,000 points, 1 free attribute point

Failure Penalty: None

World Description:

After his son and daughter are kidnapped, a now forty-year-old Peter learns a shocking truth from his grandmother—that he is, in fact, Peter Pan from the fairy tales. Though reluctant to believe, he is forcibly brought back to Neverland by the fairy Tinkerbell. Thus begins another chapter in the legend of the boy who never grows up…

(Note: This world operates in Peace Mode. Adventurers cannot gain rewards from fighting each other.)

In a primitive campsite, Qin Ming's eyes snapped open.

As he scanned the parchment briefing in his hand, his expression turned strange.

Captain Hook? The game based on Peter Pan?

And the mission difficulty was only D-level!

Goddamn, it's been ages since I've seen such a low-tier mission difficulty.

For a moment, he felt almost… disoriented.

Of course, the main reason for this discomfort was the ridiculously low rewards.

Even if he completed both the main quest and the optional quest, he'd only earn 3 free attribute points.

Three points? What is this, charity?

He didn't rush to get up. Instead, he sat back on the wooden chair and began to analyze the situation carefully.

The mission itself was laughably easy. After all, even in a B-level mission, he had managed to kill the Act 2 boss, Xiahou Dun.

A mere D-level boss? He could probably sneeze it to death.

But what really made him uneasy was the Nightmare Space notification he had received right before entering this world:

(Ding! A special item has been used against you. The item was successfully activated. Additional participants have followed you into this mission world. The number of participants has increased to: 8.)

The pursuers that Double-Gun Lady warned me about… they've arrived.

There were three extra participants, and they were here specifically for him.

Compared to the simplicity of the mission, those three were the real danger.

Who knows what kind of abilities they have?

He glanced around warily. Will they spawn in the same location as me?

If they do… well, that'd actually make things easier.

His knuckles cracked as flames briefly flared around his fists.

Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to his Faction Title Bonus Quests.

Thanks to his unique Silver Title: Subduing Tiger General, Qin Ming had entered as a main faction member.

His current role? A member of the Lost Boys camp.

How the hell did a grown man, nearly six feet tall and well into his twenties, end up infiltrating a camp of perpetual children?

I thought these kids hated adults. How'd I end up being accepted here?

But regardless of how, it was officially recognized by the Nightmare Space.

And his second title effect had already activated!

This meant that one female character in the main faction now had a favorability rating of 500 towards him.

But there was just one tiny problem…

There are no women in the Lost Boys camp!

It's literally an all-boys club.

If there were a woman here, the entire camp would have descended into utter chaos by now!

This wouldn't be Neverland anymore—it'd be an island version of "One Thousand and One Nights." Or maybe something even worse.

The images in his mind grew increasingly obscene until he forcibly shook his head to clear them away.

Damn it, focus! This title might be overpowered, but its conditions are too damn specific.

If the title had been 'Subduing Dragon General' and increased favorability with a male character instead…

He shuddered involuntarily.

Yeah, let's not go there. Better to stick with female favorability. At least I won't have to worry about being ambushed in the middle of the night…

His mind wandered briefly to the hulking figure of Zhao Xiong from his last adventure.

Goddamn that bear of a man.

Qin Ming instinctively clutched his backside.

That guy left me with lasting trauma. Not even a month with Kasamoto Eri could erase it.

Faction Title Bonus Quests:

I Don't Want to Grow Up: Become an elite squad leader of the Lost Boys camp.

Reward: White Title: Lost Boy (+10 Spirit)

Protector of the Coop: Defeat the Evil Fat Chef solo and avenge the massacred chickens.

Reward: White Title: Chicken Knight (Summon two chickens per world, each with +5 to all stats)

I Am the Protagonist: Replace Peter Pan as the leader of the Lost Boys and become the new Peter Pan.

Reward: Green Title: Little Flying Hero (Grants low-altitude flight, consumes 1 Spirit per minute)

As he scanned the quests, his eyebrows shot up.

Summon chickens to fight for me? That's… oddly creative.

But the flight ability was what truly caught his attention.

Flying? That's an absolute game-changer.

Before he could think further, a loud commotion erupted outside.

Frowning, Qin Ming grabbed his gear and pushed open the door.

Outside, a group of rowdy boys were chasing after a chubby middle-aged man.

"He's not Peter Pan! That fat guy can't possibly be Peter Pan!"

"He's a liar! A fraud!"

"The Lost Boys camp doesn't welcome adults!"

The chubby man stumbled over a tree root, barely avoiding a wooden spear.

It was clear—the story had begun.

Peter Pan had returned to Neverland.

But time had changed him, and the Lost Boys… didn't recognize their former hero.

However, Qin Ming's attention wasn't on Peter Pan or the boys.

His eyes were locked on the sky.

There, hovering gracefully with tiny shimmering wings, was Tinkerbell.

A fairy, no larger than the palm of his hand, glowing faintly with golden light.

But most importantly…

She's female.

Their eyes met.

Tinkerbell blinked.

Then her tiny face broke into an adorable smile, and Qin Ming's interface flashed:

Favorability: 500 (Life-and-Death Companion).

(End of Chapter)