Chapter 1: A New World, a New Fiancé
The rain pounded like a war drum, each drop exploding against the windshield of Adam Stiels' rusty sedan. The highway stretched dark and slick, the wipers squeaking in a losing battle against the storm. Adam's hands gripped the wheel, his knuckles pale, his mind half on the road, half lost in The Witcher 3—Geralt's Igni scorching drowners, the thrill of a perfect build. Game of Thrones lingered too, Daenerys' pyre scene burned into his memory, her dragons hatching in fire. "If I could just live there," he muttered, his voice swallowed by the storm's roar. His phone buzzed on the passenger seat, a Discord ping about Ciri's best cards, but he ignored it. Headlights flared ahead, too close, too fast. A truck veered into his lane. Time slowed to a crawl. Metal screamed, glass shattered like a thousand tiny daggers, and pain tore through his chest, sharp and blinding. His hands slipped, blood warm on his fingers, his vision fading to red, then black. Great, hit by a truck. Worst respawn ever, he thought, as the world dissolved into cold, endless dark.
[SYSTEM: WELCOME, PLAYER. WITCHER 3 INTEGRATION ACTIVATED. UNIVERSE: GAME OF THRONES, SEASON 1, POST-DROGO PYRE. OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE. BONUS: SAVE THE DRAGON QUEEN. READY TO PLAY?]
The void hummed, electric and alive, like a computer booting in his skull. A glowing blue interface flickered before his disembodied mind, a game HUD in a dream.
Stats scrolled: [Level 1, Health: 100%, Stamina: 100%, Signs: Aard, Igni, Quen, Axii, Yrden. Inventory: Empty. Monsters Book: Active.]
Adam's thoughts snapped into focus, sharp despite the disorientation. "Survive? I just got pancaked by a semi!" he snapped, his voice echoing in the darkness. The system pulsed back:
[SYSTEM: TOUGH LUCK. NEW BODY, NEW RULES. CHECK YOUR STATS.]
A menu flared, detailing his basic signs and a steel sword. "Fine," he grumbled, sarcasm rising like a shield. "But if I'm in Westeros, I'm not bowing to any inbred lords."
Light exploded, blinding and hot, and he was falling. His boots hit sand, gritty and warm, cushioning his landing. The air reeked of smoke, blood, and charred wood, thick with the aftermath of fire. Adam blinked, his eyes stinging as they adjusted to the searing Essosi sun. Before him stood Daenerys Targaryen, unburnt and radiant, her silver hair glowing like molten moonlight, her naked form defiant amidst the ashes of Khal Drogo's pyre. Three baby dragons clung to her shoulders—ruby, emerald, onyx—their tiny claws digging into her skin, their screeches piercing the air. Around her, Dothraki warriors bellowed, their arakhs gleaming as they closed in, driven by a frantic chant. "Prophecy says she burns the world!" a burly rider roared, his blade raised. Adam's HUD pinged: [SYSTEM: QUEST: SAVE DAENERYS. REWARD: 200K GOLD, ALLY TRUST.]
[SYSTEM: First-time gift — Because the enemies are numerous and stronger than the host, EXP gains and all stats will be doubled. All boosts exp and stats will reset after the battle to level 1]
His new body felt strong, lean, and oddly familiar, clad in invisible Witcher armor layered over Dothraki leathers, light as air but tough as steel. A steel sword hung at his hip, its grip worn yet perfect in his hand, like an extension of his will. This is my kind of cheat code, he thought, a grin tugging at his lips. "Burn the world? Nah, she just needs a better fiancé." He opened his mental alchemy table, a glowing grid in his mind, and selected Swallow. His hands moved on instinct, mixing weirwood sap and desert herbs from a system-provided pouch. The air shimmered, and a green vial materialized, its contents glowing faintly. He downed it, warmth flooding his veins, healing the faint ache of transmigration, his muscles humming with energy. "Showtime," he muttered, cracking his neck.
He sprinted forward, sand kicking up under his boots. Aard unleashed a concussive wave, invisible but forceful, sending three Dothraki sprawling into the dust, their screams mingling with the pyre's crackling embers. Igni followed, a burst of flame erupting from his outstretched hand, scorching a warrior's braid and sending him howling to the ground, clutching his singed scalp. Adam's sword danced, slicing through leather armor with surgical precision, blood spraying in hot, coppery arcs. [SYSTEM: +50 XP PER KILL. LEVEL 2 REACHED.] Adrenaline surged, his grin widening as he parried an arakh, the clash ringing in his ears. "This beats any VR game," he said, ducking a wild swing.
A burly Dothraki charged, his blade arcing for Adam's head. Quen flared, a golden shield enveloping him, deflecting the strike with a metallic clang that vibrated through his bones. He countered, his sword piercing the man's chest, blood bubbling as the warrior fell. Spinning, Adam cast Axii on another, his fingers twitching as the sign's energy pulsed. The warrior froze, eyes glazed, and Adam chuckled, his prank itch flaring. "Salute that goat, big guy, it's your new khal." The man dropped to one knee before a bleating goat, sparking confused shouts from his comrades and a belly laugh from Adam. Daenerys stared, her dragons hissing, as he carved through the last attackers, their bodies piling in the sand.
[SYSTEM: QUEST COMPLETE. +500 XP. LEVEL 3. +200K GOLD.]
Blood-soaked and grinning, Adam sheathed his sword, the blade slick with crimson. He approached Daenerys, wiping blood from his cheek, his eyes locking on her violet gaze. She stood tall, clutching her black dragon, its tiny wings flapping. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite her vulnerability, the pyre's heat still radiating from her skin. Adam flashed a cocky grin. "Adam Stiels, your fiancé. Touch you again, and they're barbecue." Her lips parted, shock mingling with a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Behind her, Viserys cowered, his golden crown glinting mockingly in the sunlight. Adam snorted, his sarcasm sharp. "Nice accessory, Viserys. Makes you look like a discount king."
Jorah Mormont stepped forward, his weathered face stern, sword half-drawn. "You're bold, stranger, but who do you serve?" Adam raised an eyebrow, his HUD flashing new prompts. "Myself, Ser Frowns-a-Lot. But I'm keeping her alive, so maybe thank me?" Jorah's jaw tightened, his hand hovering over his hilt, but he lowered it, his eyes grudgingly respectful. Daenerys clutched her dragons, their chirps softening. "Why call yourself my fiancé?" she asked, her tone sharp but curious. Adam shrugged, his system buzzing with potential. "Saved your life, figured I'd aim high. Plus, dragons are cool." Her eyes softened, a near-smile tugging at her lips, but her voice held steel. "I owe you thanks, but I'll not be claimed." Adam winked, leaning closer, his voice playful. "Fair. Let's start with allies, then. You bring the dragons, I bring the fireworks."
Daenerys' POV: She stood amidst the ashes, her dragons warm against her skin, their tiny hearts beating in sync with hers. The stranger—Adam—looted the Dothraki corpses with casual ease, his armor shimmering like a mirage, his eyes glinting with mischief. He'd slaughtered a dozen men without hesitation, his movements fluid, unnatural, like a storm given form. A sorcerer? A sellsword? she wondered, her heart still racing from the pyre's heat. His jest about being her fiancé was absurd, yet it challenged Viserys' schemes, stirring a spark of defiance in her. The dragons chirped, sensing no malice, their eyes locked on Adam. She'd watch him closely, this man who fought like a demon and laughed like a fool.
[SYSTEM: NEW QUEST: EARN DAENERYS' TRUST.]
Adam pocketed the gold, the coins clinking in his invisible inventory, their weight satisfying. He glanced at the camp, the Dothraki whispering, their eyes wary but awed. Viserys sulked by a tent, his crown tilted, his voice a distant whine. Jorah stood by Daenerys, his posture rigid, his gaze suspicious. Adam's mind raced: This world's gonna love me. Save Dany, build an empire, maybe prank Viserys into saluting a camel. Retirement's already looking sweet. The desert stretched endless before him, the sun blazing, but for now, he'd stick with the dragon queen. He kicked a stray pebble, his grin widening. Life was already more fun than Earth.