.how {
  padding: clamp(56px, 7vw, 110px) var(--container-padding-x);
  background: var(--color-bg);
}

.how__heading {
  margin: 0 auto clamp(14px, 1.5vw, 20px);
  max-width: 1000px;
  text-align: center;
  font-family: var(--font-display);
  font-weight: 900;
  font-size: clamp(34px, 5.4vw, 70px);
  line-height: 1.05;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  background: var(--grad-text-light);
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
          background-clip: text;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
          color: transparent;
  filter: drop-shadow(0 4px 6px rgba(12, 12, 12, 0.35));
}

.how__lead {
  margin: 0 auto clamp(52px, 6vw, 84px);
  max-width: 560px;
  text-align: center;
  font-family: var(--font-body);
  font-size: clamp(15px, 1.3vw, 18px);
  line-height: 1.55;
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
}

.how__steps {
  position: relative;
  max-width: 1200px;
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 0;
  list-style: none;
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
  gap: clamp(28px, 4vw, 56px);
}

/* Dashed gold connector running behind the step numbers — echoes the
   route line in the mission section above. Spans first→last number centre. */
.how__steps::before {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  top: clamp(32px, 3.5vw, 41px);
  left: 16.6%;
  right: 16.6%;
  height: 2px;
  background: repeating-linear-gradient(
    to right,
    var(--color-accent-from) 0 7px,
    transparent 7px 15px
  );
  opacity: 0.45;
}

.how__step {
  position: relative;
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  align-items: center;
  text-align: center;
  transition: transform 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
}

.how__step:hover {
  transform: translateY(-6px);
}

.how__num {
  position: relative;
  z-index: 1;
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  width: clamp(64px, 7vw, 82px);
  height: clamp(64px, 7vw, 82px);
  margin-bottom: clamp(22px, 2.5vw, 30px);
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 1.5px solid rgba(245, 194, 5, 0.35);
  background: var(--color-bg);
  box-shadow: 0 0 0 8px var(--color-bg), inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05);
  font-family: var(--font-display);
  font-weight: 900;
  font-size: clamp(24px, 2.4vw, 32px);
  background-clip: padding-box;
  color: transparent;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
  transition: border-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.4s cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
}

/* Gold gradient numeral — layered so the dark circle bg stays opaque. */
.how__num span {
  background: var(--grad-accent);
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
          background-clip: text;
  -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
          color: transparent;
}

.how__step:hover .how__num {
  border-color: var(--color-accent-from);
  transform: scale(1.05);
}

.how__title {
  margin: 0 0 12px;
  font-family: var(--font-display);
  font-weight: 900;
  font-size: clamp(19px, 1.7vw, 24px);
  line-height: 1.1;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--color-text);
}

.how__text {
  margin: 0 auto;
  max-width: 340px;
  font-family: var(--font-body);
  font-weight: 400;
  font-size: clamp(15px, 1.25vw, 17px);
  line-height: 1.5;
  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.82);
}

.how__more {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  gap: 14px;
  margin: clamp(44px, 5vw, 68px) auto 0;
  width: max-content;
  font-family: var(--font-body);
  font-weight: 600;
  font-size: clamp(15px, 1.3vw, 17px);
  color: var(--color-accent-from);
  transition: gap 0.2s ease;
}

.how__more:hover {
  gap: 20px;
}

.how__more-arrow {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
  width: 34px;
  height: 34px;
  border-radius: 50%;
  border: 2px solid var(--color-accent-from);
  transition: background 0.2s ease, color 0.2s ease;
}

.how__more-arrow > svg {
  width: 8px;
  height: 13px;
  max-width: none;
  flex-shrink: 0;
}

.how__more:hover .how__more-arrow {
  background: var(--color-accent-from);
  color: var(--color-text-on-light);
}

@media (max-width: 860px) {
  .how__steps {
    grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
    max-width: 460px;
    margin-inline: auto;
    gap: 0;
  }

  .how__step {
    flex-direction: row;
    align-items: flex-start;
    gap: 20px;
    text-align: left;
    padding-bottom: clamp(32px, 7vw, 44px);
  }

  .how__body {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    min-width: 0;
    padding-top: 4px;
  }

  .how__step:last-child {
    padding-bottom: 0;
  }

  .how__num {
    flex: 0 0 auto;
    width: 56px;
    height: 56px;
    margin-bottom: 0;
    font-size: 22px;
    box-shadow: 0 0 0 6px var(--color-bg);
  }

  /* Connector becomes a vertical rail down the left, through the numbers. */
  .how__steps::before {
    top: 28px;
    bottom: 28px;
    left: 28px;
    right: auto;
    width: 2px;
    height: auto;
    background: repeating-linear-gradient(
      to bottom,
      var(--color-accent-from) 0 7px,
      transparent 7px 15px
    );
  }

  .how__title {
    margin-top: 12px;
  }

  .how__text {
    margin: 0;
    max-width: none;
  }
}