.hero-gradient-canvas {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      pointer-events: none;
      z-index: 0;
    }

    .hero-gradient-veil {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      background: rgba(36, 36, 36, 0.2);
      pointer-events: none;
      z-index: 0;
    }

    .hero-buttons {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 16px;
      animation: fadeInUp 0.6s ease-out 0.3s both;
    }

    .btn-hero-secondary {
      background: rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.1);
      color: var(--sky);
      border: 1px solid rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.25);
    }

    .btn-hero-secondary:hover {
      background: rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.2);
      border-color: var(--sky);
      border-radius: 0;
      transform: translateY(-1px);
    }

    /* ===== STAGGERED CHILDREN ===== */
    .stagger-children>* {
      opacity: 0;
      transform: translateY(24px);
      transition: opacity 0.5s ease-out, transform 0.5s ease-out;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>*:nth-child(1) {
      transition-delay: 0s;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>*:nth-child(2) {
      transition-delay: 0.1s;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>*:nth-child(3) {
      transition-delay: 0.2s;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>*:nth-child(4) {
      transition-delay: 0.3s;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>*:nth-child(5) {
      transition-delay: 0.4s;
    }

    .stagger-children.visible>* {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: translateY(0);
    }

    /* ===== STEPS ZIGZAG ===== */
    .steps-intro {
      padding: 100px 40px 0;
      text-align: center;
      background: var(--off-white);
    }

    .steps-intro .section-label {
      font-family: var(--font-subtitle);
      font-size: 13px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 2px;
      color: var(--blue);
      margin-bottom: 16px;
    }

    .steps-intro h2 {
      font-size: clamp(32px, 4vw, 48px);
      letter-spacing: -1.5px;
      line-height: 1.15;
      color: var(--charcoal);
      max-width: 700px;
      margin: 0 auto;
    }

    .step-band {
      position: relative;
      overflow: hidden;
      padding: 100px 40px;
    }

    .step-band--light {
      background: var(--off-white);
    }

    .step-band--dark {
      background: var(--charcoal);
      color: var(--white);
    }

    /* Large decorative number */
    .step-band__number {
      position: absolute;
      font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif;
      font-weight: 700;
      font-size: clamp(180px, 22vw, 320px);
      line-height: 1;
      letter-spacing: -10px;
      pointer-events: none;
      user-select: none;
      opacity: 0;
      transition: opacity 0.8s ease-out, transform 0.8s ease-out;
      transform: translateY(40px);
    }

    .step-band.visible .step-band__number {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: translateY(0);
    }

    .step-band--light .step-band__number {
      color: rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.04);
      top: -10%;
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-band__number {
      color: rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.05);
      top: -10%;
    }

    /* Alternating number position */
    .step-band:nth-child(odd) .step-band__number {
      right: -2%;
    }

    .step-band:nth-child(even) .step-band__number {
      left: -2%;
    }

    /* Inner grid: number side + content side */
    .step-band__inner {
      max-width: var(--max-width);
      margin: 0 auto;
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
      gap: 80px;
      align-items: center;
      position: relative;
      z-index: 1;
    }

    /* Alternate direction */
    .step-band:nth-child(even) .step-band__inner {
      direction: rtl;
    }

    .step-band:nth-child(even) .step-band__inner>* {
      direction: ltr;
    }

    /* Left column: step indicator */
    .step-band__visual {
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 24px;
    }

    .step-badge {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      width: 100px;
      height: 100px;
      border-radius: 24px;
      font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif;
      font-weight: 700;
      font-size: 40px;
      position: relative;
      opacity: 0;
      transform: scale(0.8);
      transition: opacity 0.6s ease-out 0.2s, transform 0.6s ease-out 0.2s;
    }

    .step-band.visible .step-badge {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: scale(1);
    }

    .step-band--light .step-badge {
      background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--blue), var(--sky));
      color: var(--white);
      box-shadow: 0 12px 40px var(--blue-glow), 0 0 0 1px rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.1);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-badge {
      background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--sky-light), var(--sky));
      color: var(--charcoal);
      box-shadow: 0 12px 40px rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.2), 0 0 0 1px rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.1);
    }

    /* Accent line under badge */
    .step-badge::after {
      content: '';
      position: absolute;
      bottom: -28px;
      left: 50%;
      transform: translateX(-50%);
      width: 2px;
      height: 20px;
      border-left: 2px dotted;
      opacity: 0.3;
    }

    .step-band--light .step-badge::after {
      border-color: var(--blue);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-badge::after {
      border-color: var(--sky);
    }

    .step-band__visual .step-tag {
      font-family: var(--font-subtitle);
      font-size: 12px;
      text-transform: uppercase;
      letter-spacing: 2.5px;
      margin-top: 8px;
    }

    .step-band--light .step-tag {
      color: var(--blue);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-tag {
      color: var(--sky);
    }

    /* Right column: text content */
    .step-band__content {
      opacity: 0;
      transform: translateY(32px);
      transition: opacity 0.6s ease-out 0.15s, transform 0.6s ease-out 0.15s;
    }

    .step-band.visible .step-band__content {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: translateY(0);
    }

    .step-band__content h3 {
      font-size: clamp(28px, 3.5vw, 42px);
      letter-spacing: -1.5px;
      line-height: 1.15;
      margin-bottom: 20px;
    }

    .step-band--light .step-band__content h3 {
      color: var(--charcoal);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-band__content h3 {
      color: var(--white);
    }

    .step-band__content .step-lead {
      font-size: 18px;
      font-family: var(--font-title);
      font-weight: 700;
      margin-bottom: 16px;
      line-height: 1.4;
    }

    .step-band--light .step-lead {
      color: var(--navy);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-lead {
      color: var(--sky-light);
    }

    .step-band__content .step-body {
      font-size: 16px;
      line-height: 1.85;
      margin-bottom: 28px;
    }

    .step-band--light .step-body {
      color: #555;
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-body {
      color: var(--silver);
    }

    .step-band__content .step-closing {
      display: inline-flex;
      align-items: center;
      gap: 10px;
      font-family: var(--font-subtitle);
      font-size: 14px;
      letter-spacing: 0.5px;
      padding: 10px 20px;
      border-radius: 50px;
      transition: transform 0.3s ease;
    }

    .step-closing:hover {
      transform: translateX(4px);
    }

    .step-band--light .step-closing {
      color: var(--blue);
      background: rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.06);
      border: 1px solid rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.12);
    }

    .step-band--dark .step-closing {
      color: var(--sky);
      background: rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.08);
      border: 1px solid rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.12);
    }

    .step-closing .arrow-icon {
      transition: transform 0.3s ease;
    }

    .step-closing:hover .arrow-icon {
      transform: translateX(3px);
    }

    /* Decorative connector between bands */
    .step-connector {
      height: 0;
      position: relative;
      z-index: 2;
    }

    .step-connector::before {
      content: '';
      position: absolute;
      left: 50%;
      top: -20px;
      transform: translateX(-50%);
      width: 40px;
      height: 40px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      border: 2px dotted var(--silver);
      background: var(--off-white);
      z-index: 3;
    }

    .step-connector--dark::before {
      border-color: rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.2);
      background: var(--charcoal);
    }

    /* ===== CTA PARTICLES CANVAS ===== */
    .cta-particles-canvas {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      pointer-events: none;
      z-index: 0;
    }

    /* ===== FINAL CTA ===== */
    .final-cta {
      padding: 120px 40px;
      background: var(--white);
      color: var(--charcoal);
      text-align: center;
      position: relative;
      overflow: hidden;
    }

    .final-cta::before {
      content: '';
      position: absolute;
      top: -30%;
      left: 20%;
      width: 600px;
      height: 600px;
      background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(157, 201, 221, 0.15) 0%, transparent 60%);
      pointer-events: none;
    }

    .final-cta::after {
      content: '';
      position: absolute;
      bottom: -20%;
      right: 10%;
      width: 500px;
      height: 500px;
      background: radial-gradient(circle, rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.12) 0%, transparent 60%);
      pointer-events: none;
    }

    .final-cta-inner {
      max-width: 720px;
      margin: 0 auto;
      position: relative;
      z-index: 1;
    }

    .final-cta h2 {
      font-size: clamp(36px, 5vw, 56px);
      letter-spacing: -2px;
      line-height: 1.1;
      margin-bottom: 24px;
    }

    .final-cta p {
      font-size: clamp(16px, 1.6vw, 19px);
      color: #555;
      line-height: 1.7;
      margin-bottom: 48px;
    }

    .final-cta-buttons {
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      gap: 16px;
    }

    .btn-final-secondary {
      background: transparent;
      color: var(--blue);
      border: 1px solid rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.3);
    }

    .btn-final-secondary:hover {
      border-color: var(--blue);
      background: rgba(0, 111, 160, 0.06);
      border-radius: 0;
      transform: translateY(-1px);
    }

    /* ===== ANIMATIONS ===== */
    @keyframes gradientTextShimmer {
      0% {
        background-position: 0% center;
      }

      100% {
        background-position: 200% center;
      }
    }

    /* ===== RESPONSIVE ===== */
    @media (max-width: 768px) {
      .hero-buttons {
        flex-direction: column;
      }

      .steps-intro {
        padding: 60px 20px 0;
      }

      .step-band {
        padding: 60px 20px;
      }

      .step-band__inner {
        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
        gap: 40px;
        text-align: center;
      }

      .step-band:nth-child(even) .step-band__inner {
        direction: ltr;
      }

      .step-band__number {
        font-size: clamp(120px, 30vw, 180px);
        left: 50% !important;
        right: auto !important;
        transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(40px);
      }

      .step-band.visible .step-band__number {
        transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0);
      }

      .step-badge {
        width: 80px;
        height: 80px;
        font-size: 32px;
        border-radius: 20px;
      }

      .step-band__content h3 {
        font-size: clamp(24px, 6vw, 32px);
      }

      .step-connector {
        display: none;
      }

      .final-cta {
        padding: 80px 20px;
      }

      .final-cta-buttons {
        flex-direction: column;
      }
    }