/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════
   HOW IT WORKS — IMMERSIVE INTERACTIVE STEPPER
   ═══════════════════════════════════════════ */
.how {
  padding: var(--section-pad) 0;
  background: var(--dark);
  position: relative;
  overflow: hidden;
}

/* V1-style rich background */
.how__bg {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  pointer-events: none;
  overflow: hidden;
}
.how__mesh {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background:
    radial-gradient(ellipse 55% 55% at 25% 35%, rgba(0, 123, 193, 0.22) 0%, transparent 70%),
    radial-gradient(ellipse 45% 45% at 75% 65%, rgba(82, 171, 51, 0.18) 0%, transparent 70%),
    radial-gradient(ellipse 30% 35% at 55% 15%, rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.1) 0%, transparent 70%);
}
.how__orb {
  position: absolute;
  border-radius: 50%;
  filter: blur(120px);
  animation: how-orb-float 8s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
}
.how__orb--cyan {
  width: 550px; height: 550px;
  top: -20%; left: -8%;
  background: rgba(0, 123, 193, 0.25);
}
.how__orb--green {
  width: 450px; height: 450px;
  bottom: -15%; right: 5%;
  background: rgba(82, 171, 51, 0.2);
  animation-delay: -3s;
}
.how__orb--amber {
  width: 300px; height: 300px;
  top: 15%; right: 15%;
  background: rgba(245, 158, 11, 0.14);
  animation-delay: -5s;
}
.how__grid-lines {
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  background-image:
    linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,0.025) 1px, transparent 1px),
    linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255,255,255,0.025) 1px, transparent 1px);
  background-size: 80px 80px;
}
@keyframes how-orb-float {
  0%   { transform: translate(0, 0) scale(1); }
  100% { transform: translate(30px, -20px) scale(1.08); }
}
.how .section-badge--green { background: rgba(82,171,51,0.15); color: #7dd462; }
.how .section-title { color: #fff; }
.how .section-title em { color: var(--blue); }

.how__inner {
  max-width: var(--container-wide);
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 0 2.4rem;
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1;
}

/* ── TIMELINE TRACK ── */
.how__timeline {
  display: flex;
  align-items: flex-start;
  justify-content: space-between;
  position: relative;
  margin: 4rem auto 3.5rem;
  max-width: 820px;
  padding: 0 2rem;
}
.how__track {
  position: absolute;
  top: 26px;
  left: 60px;
  right: 60px;
  height: 3px;
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.08);
  border-radius: 2px;
}
.how__track-fill {
  position: absolute;
  top: 0; left: 0;
  height: 100%;
  width: 0%;
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--blue), var(--green));
  border-radius: 2px;
  transition: width 0.7s cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1);
  box-shadow: 0 0 20px rgba(0,123,193,0.4);
}

/* ── TIMELINE NODES ── */
.how__node {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 0.75rem;
  background: none;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
  position: relative;
  z-index: 2;
  padding: 0;
  -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
}
.how__node-ring {
  width: 52px; height: 52px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 2px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15);
  display: grid;
  place-items: center;
  position: relative;
  transition: border-color 0.5s, background 0.5s, box-shadow 0.5s, transform 0.4s;
  background: rgba(20, 30, 45, 0.75);
  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
  backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
}
.how__node-ring::after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  inset: -6px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 2px solid transparent;
  transition: border-color 0.5s, opacity 0.5s;
  opacity: 0;
}
.how__node-num {
  font-size: 1.1rem;
  font-weight: 800;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.25);
  letter-spacing: -0.02em;
  line-height: 1;
  transition: color 0.5s;
  pointer-events: none;
}
.how__node-label {
  font-size: 0.875rem;
  font-weight: 600;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.35);
  letter-spacing: 0.01em;
  transition: color 0.5s;
  white-space: nowrap;
}

/* Node states */
.how__node:hover .how__node-ring {
  border-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.25);
  transform: scale(1.08);
}
.how__node:hover .how__node-label { color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6); }

.how__node--active .how__node-ring {
  border-color: var(--blue);
  background: rgba(0,123,193,0.25);
  box-shadow: 0 0 30px rgba(0,123,193,0.25), 0 0 60px rgba(0,123,193,0.1);
  transform: scale(1.1);
}
.how__node--active .how__node-ring::after {
  border-color: rgba(0,123,193,0.3);
  opacity: 1;
  animation: howPulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
}
.how__node--active .how__node-num {
  color: var(--blue);
}
.how__node--active .how__node-label { color: #fff; }

.how__node--done .how__node-ring {
  border-color: var(--green);
  background: rgba(82,171,51,0.2);
}
.how__node--done .how__node-num { color: var(--green); }
.how__node--done .how__node-label { color: rgba(255,255,255,0.55); }

@keyframes howPulse {
  0%, 100% { transform: scale(1); opacity: 1; }
  50% { transform: scale(1.3); opacity: 0; }
}

/* ── PANELS ── */
.how__panels {
  position: relative;
  min-height: 420px;
}
.how__panel {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
  gap: 3.5rem;
  align-items: center;
  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.03);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
  border-radius: var(--radius-xl);
  padding: 3.2rem 3.5rem;
  position: absolute;
  inset: 0;
  opacity: 0;
  visibility: hidden;
  transform: translateY(20px);
  transition: opacity 0.55s cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1),
              visibility 0.55s,
              transform 0.55s cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1);
}
.how__panel--active {
  opacity: 1;
  visibility: visible;
  transform: translateY(0);
  position: relative;
}

.how__panel-number {
  display: block;
  font-size: 5rem;
  font-weight: 900;
  letter-spacing: -0.06em;
  line-height: 1;
  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--blue) 0%, rgba(0,123,193,0.25) 100%);
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
  background-clip: text;
  margin-bottom: 0.75rem;
}
.how__panel-title {
  font-size: 2.4rem;
  font-weight: 800;
  color: #fff;
  letter-spacing: -0.03em;
  margin-bottom: 1rem;
}
.how__panel-desc {
  font-size: 1.125rem;
  line-height: 1.7;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.6);
  margin-bottom: 1.8rem;
  max-width: 440px;
}
.how__panel-list {
  list-style: none;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 0.9rem;
}
.how__panel-list li {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 0.75rem;
  font-size: 1rem;
  font-weight: 500;
  color: rgba(255,255,255,0.8);
}
.how__panel-list svg { flex-shrink: 0; }

/* Visual (image) side */
.how__panel-visual {
  position: relative;
  border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
  overflow: hidden;
  aspect-ratio: 4/3;
}
.how__panel-visual img {
  width: 100%; height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;
  transition: transform 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1);
}
.how__panel--active .how__panel-visual img {
  animation: howImgIn 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1) forwards;
}
@keyframes howImgIn {
  from { transform: scale(1.08); }
  to { transform: scale(1); }
}

.how__panel-badge {
  position: absolute;
  top: 1.2rem; right: 1.2rem;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 0.5rem;
  background: rgba(15,25,35,0.85);
  backdrop-filter: blur(12px);
  border: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.1);
  color: #fff;
  padding: 0.55rem 1rem;
  border-radius: 60px;
  font-size: 0.8125rem;
  font-weight: 600;
  letter-spacing: 0.01em;
}
.how__panel-badge svg { opacity: 0.6; }