The 50 Billion Survival Bet
Take 50 Billion vs Just Live Normally
Title: Survive 1 Year for 1 Billion vs Don't
Author: Gimme100BillionPlz
A roughly 200 sq ft solitary room with a separate bathroom, no windows, only delivery food allowed, 50,000 won charged daily, no smartphone, PC with internet but no contact with family or friends. Would you do it?
These kinds of bait threads popped up all the time. "Would you do it for this money vs nah." It was a classic, but they always got decent engagement whenever they surfaced.
I scrolled through the comments, then quietly placed my hands on the keyboard and typed one out.
But like all these bait threads, it was pointless mental masturbation with zero nutritional value.
I sighed and switched tabs to my home away from home—a community forum.
It was the gallery dedicated to my all-time favorite game: Shadows Choice.
A dark fantasy interactive movie blended with RPG elements, set in a medieval world where you picked choices to adventure through. Endless scenarios branched from your decisions, leading to dozens of endings. You could live as a mediocre commoner bowing to the world, wipe out the entire planet, or end the dark age and usher in peace.
Even I'd cleared Shadows Choice dozens of times and hadn't seen every ending. Enough said.
It pissed me off that hidden choices and scenarios still eluded me, but it was also a blessing. It meant there was still meat left on those bones, keeping my beloved Shadows Choice gallery alive. Thanks to that, I could lurk under my fave character's name: Allemi.
I opened the Shadows Choice gallery and clicked through the new posts one by one. Posts didn't regen super fast, but hey, better than a dead gallery.
Nothing substantial. After dozens of my own playthroughs plus all the gallery bait I'd seen, fresh posts rarely entertained me.
While skimming three threads, a new one popped up. But it looked like more empty calories.
Another meaningless vs bait? Even for an old game, can't they bring something fresh?
I frowned and clicked it. At least it wasn't a bait-and-switch gross image.
No comments yet. Fresh post, and zero comment bait anyway.
I went to hit back... but for some reason, it pissed me off. A god-tier game gallery stuck with this low-effort vs crap? In my Shadows Choice gallery, of all places?
Couldn't hold back. I dropped a comment.
Figured it was just aggro bait. Hit back, switched tabs for other posts.
Then a reply alert pinged.
Wanna go?
I dove in with a reply chain.
Probably just gonna post some weird image. No point watching.
When would we get some real meat, like lore analysis?
I closed all tabs and shut down the browser. Seen all the posts worth seeing—time to game till new ones regen.
Fired up the game, and suddenly my phone buzzed and rang.
Another ad? Don't need loans or stock tips, fuck off.
Did I even have the ringer on?
Grabbed the phone to check notifications. Bank app alert, as expected. Swiped to dismiss without thinking.
Then something weird caught my eye.
New deposit received. Check now.
Deposit? No money coming in...
New scam?
Didn't notice the alert looked off. Hypnotized, I opened the bank app to check balance.
Probably like 30,000 won left?
What the—bug?
Couldn't process it. Never had this much cash, so was the app glitching?
Dazed, I tested it. Bought shares of a hot stock, topped up gacha currency raw instead of packs.
Incredibly, no insufficient funds anywhere.
Checked balance again.
Down exactly what I spent.
Suddenly terrified, I messaged customer service saying money seemed deposited wrong.
Response: No issues detected.
So this was real money? Post-tax 50 billion, squeaky clean?
"YAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!"
I howled in joy in my empty room. Could buy any house, anything! Invest smart and coast forever!
Bouncing around, my head suddenly throbbed.
Too hyped? But the weird sensation intensified. Lost control, collapsed onto the bed.
As consciousness faded with a beep, those replies flashed in my mind.
That was what it meant.
Like an old TV dying, my vision went black.
Three days later, I had to accept the new reality.
I was inside Shadows Choice.
Because of that mystery bet, I'd taken 50 billion and possessed a character.
Once I realized it, the task was clear: Survive 5 years here.
Outlast 5 years without dying, return home with 50 billion. Annual salary over 10 billion clean—sweet deal.
But I couldn't just celebrate.
"Hoo..."
Splashed water on my face, cleared my head, stared into the mirror.
Met the eyes of a man with wavy black hair.
My new face: Tall, sturdy build, handsome features, immense power.
Good looks ease survival—even in-game devs released stats showing it.
Possessing a hottie wasn't bad.
But that wasn't the issue.
I knew who this was.
"Vermin..."
Warrior who rips lion jaws barehanded, mage who wields wand to shift weather, scholar unearthing world secrets, dignified lord bending hearts.
And yet...
"Lord Vermin, are you inside? A visitor claiming to be a black mage has arrived. What shall we do?"
"Raid results are in. Captured 200 fresh slaves, looted goods as follows..."
"New wanted poster up. Bounty nearly doubled from last time."
Slave trader indifferent to murder or enslavement, heretic delving forbidden black magic, underworld boss empires and heroes itch to kill.
The villain who meets gruesome death in every ending.
That was the Vermin I'd possessed.
"Fuck..."
We're fucked.