diff --git a/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearBeacon.tsx b/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearBeacon.tsx
index 889006f41..d34b609d8 100644
--- a/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearBeacon.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearBeacon.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { lazy, Suspense, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import { Play, X } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Play } from 'lucide-react'
 import { useTranslation } from '../../i18n'
 import { noFearCopy } from './noFearLines'
 import './fourzero.css'
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import './fourzero.css'
 
 const NoFearShow = lazy(() => import('./NoFearShow'))
 
-const DISMISS_KEY = 'trek-fourzero-dismissed'
-
 // Abstract night-world for the teaser: light points loosely shaped like the
 // inhabited continents (relative coords), between which golden arcs travel.
 const TEASER_POINTS: [number, number][] = [
@@ -120,17 +118,13 @@ function TeaserCanvas() {
 /**
  * The dashboard trigger for the 4.0.0 "KEINE ANGST" show: a dark cinematic card
  * with a living web of golden travel arcs (desktop only). One click starts the
- * show; the small × dismisses the beacon for good on this device.
- * Core colors ride inline so no dashboard widget CSS can wash them out.
+ * show. Core colors ride inline so no dashboard widget CSS can wash them out.
  */
 export default function NoFearBeacon() {
   const { language } = useTranslation()
   const copy = noFearCopy(language)
-  const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState(() => localStorage.getItem(DISMISS_KEY) === '1')
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false)
 
-  if (dismissed) return null
-
   return (
     <>
       <div className="fz-beacon" style={{ background: '#07080d', color: '#f5f2ea' }}>
@@ -141,14 +135,6 @@ export default function NoFearBeacon() {
           <span className="fz-beacon-sub" style={{ color: 'rgba(245, 240, 225, 0.75)' }}>{copy.beaconSub}</span>
           <span className="fz-beacon-playbtn" aria-hidden><Play size={16} fill="currentColor" /></span>
         </button>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          className="fz-beacon-dismiss"
-          aria-label={copy.skip}
-          onClick={() => { localStorage.setItem(DISMISS_KEY, '1'); setDismissed(true) }}
-        >
-          <X size={12} />
-        </button>
       </div>
       {open && (
         <Suspense fallback={null}>
diff --git a/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearShow.tsx b/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearShow.tsx
index 9e5d2a1c1..bf968dbbe 100644
--- a/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearShow.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/FourZero/NoFearShow.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 import { Volume2, VolumeX, X } from 'lucide-react'
 import { placesApi, tripsApi } from '../../api/client'
 import apiClient from '../../api/client'
@@ -38,10 +39,8 @@ const CUES: Cue[] = [
   { at: 58.8, line: 'yourStatsCountries' },
   { at: 64.0, line: 'notAnOpinion', hard: true, impact: 1 },
   { at: 71.0, act: 'anthem', line: null, impact: 0.8 },
-  { at: 84.0, act: 'end', line: null },
 ]
 const ANTHEM_AT = 71
-const CREDITS_AT = 84
 // The three staccato words strobe with the late fear act, just before the cut.
 const FLASH_WINDOWS: [number, number][] = [[22.2, 22.85], [23.6, 24.25], [25.0, 25.65]]
 
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ function sceneAt(t: number): SceneState {
     warmth: ramp(t, 34, 46),
     personalGlow: ramp(t, 55.5, 60.5),
     particles: ramp(t, ANTHEM_AT, ANTHEM_AT + 4),
-    opacity: (1 - blackout) * (t >= CREDITS_AT ? 0.35 : 1),
+    opacity: 1 - blackout,
   }
 }
 
@@ -83,15 +82,13 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
   const [cueIdx, setCueIdx] = useState(-1)
   const [flashIdx, setFlashIdx] = useState(-1)
   const [muted, setMuted] = useState(false)
-  const [credits, setCredits] = useState(false)
   const [anthem, setAnthem] = useState(false)
   const reducedMotion = useMemo(() => window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches, [])
 
   const skipToEnd = useCallback(() => {
-    startRef.current = performance.now() - CREDITS_AT * 1000
+    startRef.current = performance.now() - ANTHEM_AT * 1000
     setAnthem(true)
-    setCredits(true)
-    audioRef.current?.setAct('end')
+    audioRef.current?.setAct('anthem')
   }, [])
 
   // Boot: audio, scene, personal places, chrome side effects.
@@ -175,7 +172,7 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
     const ctx = cv?.getContext('2d')
     if (reducedMotion) {
       setCueIdx(CUES.length - 1)
-      if (ctx) sceneRef.current?.draw(ctx, { ...sceneAt(CREDITS_AT), particles: 0 }, CREDITS_AT)
+      if (ctx) sceneRef.current?.draw(ctx, { ...sceneAt(ANTHEM_AT + 8), particles: 0 }, ANTHEM_AT + 8)
       return
     }
     let raf = 0
@@ -193,7 +190,6 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
         if (cue.swell) audioRef.current?.swell()
         setCueIdx(idx)
         if (t >= ANTHEM_AT) setAnthem(true)
-        if (t >= CREDITS_AT) setCredits(true)
       }
       let flash = -1
       for (let i = 0; i < FLASH_WINDOWS.length; i++) {
@@ -228,7 +224,10 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
   else if (lineKey) lineText = copy.lines[lineKey]
   const hard = !!cue?.hard
 
-  return (
+  // Portal to body: the dashboard sidebar is position:sticky and forms its own
+  // stacking context, so an in-place overlay would sit UNDER the fixed navbar
+  // (z-200 at root level) no matter its z-index.
+  return ReactDOM.createPortal(
     <div ref={overlayRef} className="fz-overlay" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-label={copy.beaconTitle} tabIndex={-1}>
       <canvas ref={canvasRef} className="fz-canvas" />
 
@@ -249,8 +248,8 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Anthem: the big words + the cascade through every TREK language. */}
-      {anthem && !credits && (
+      {/* The ending: the big words + the cascade through every TREK language — and it stays. */}
+      {anthem && (
         <div className="fz-anthem">
           <h1 className="fz-anthem-word">{copy.anthem}</h1>
           <div className="fz-cascade">
@@ -263,16 +262,6 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Credits — stays until dismissed. */}
-      {credits && (
-        <div className="fz-credits">
-          <h1 className="fz-anthem-word fz-anthem-word-small">{copy.anthem}</h1>
-          <p className="fz-credit-lead">{copy.tooBeautiful}</p>
-          <p className="fz-credit-title">{copy.creditTitle}</p>
-          <p className="fz-credit-body">{copy.creditBody}</p>
-        </div>
-      )}
-
       {/* Chrome: mute, skip, close. */}
       <div className="fz-chrome">
         <button
@@ -283,7 +272,7 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
         >
           {muted ? <VolumeX size={15} /> : <Volume2 size={15} />}
         </button>
-        {!credits && (
+        {!anthem && (
           <button type="button" className="fz-chrome-btn fz-chrome-skip" onClick={skipToEnd}>
             {copy.skip}
           </button>
@@ -292,6 +281,7 @@ export default function NoFearShow({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
           <X size={15} />
         </button>
       </div>
-    </div>
+    </div>,
+    document.body
   )
 }
diff --git a/client/src/components/FourZero/fourzero.css b/client/src/components/FourZero/fourzero.css
index 2d22aa996..97eea64df 100644
--- a/client/src/components/FourZero/fourzero.css
+++ b/client/src/components/FourZero/fourzero.css
@@ -170,76 +170,6 @@
   to { opacity: 0.92; transform: translateY(0); }
 }
 
-/* ── credits ── */
-
-.fz-credits {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  gap: 14px;
-  padding: 0 8vw;
-  text-align: center;
-  animation: fzLineIn 1.8s ease-out both;
-}
-
-.fz-credit-lead {
-  font-size: clamp(16px, 1.7vw, 23px);
-  font-weight: 300;
-  font-style: italic;
-  opacity: 0.95;
-  margin: 6px 0 4px;
-  max-width: 680px;
-}
-
-.fz-credit-title {
-  font-size: clamp(17px, 1.8vw, 24px);
-  font-weight: 700;
-  margin: 10px 0 0;
-}
-
-.fz-credit-body {
-  font-size: clamp(14px, 1.4vw, 18px);
-  font-weight: 300;
-  opacity: 0.85;
-  margin: 0;
-  max-width: 640px;
-}
-
-.fz-credit-link {
-  font-size: 13px;
-  color: rgba(255, 200, 120, 0.9);
-  text-decoration: none;
-  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 200, 120, 0.4);
-  padding-bottom: 1px;
-  margin-top: 6px;
-  pointer-events: auto;
-}
-
-.fz-credit-link:hover { color: #ffd58a; border-color: #ffd58a; }
-
-.fz-close-btn {
-  margin-top: 26px;
-  padding: 11px 34px;
-  border-radius: 999px;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(245, 240, 225, 0.35);
-  background: transparent;
-  color: #f5f2ea;
-  font-size: 14px;
-  font-weight: 600;
-  font-family: inherit;
-  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: background 0.2s, border-color 0.2s;
-}
-
-.fz-close-btn:hover {
-  background: rgba(245, 240, 225, 0.12);
-  border-color: rgba(245, 240, 225, 0.7);
-}
-
 /* ── chrome ── */
 
 .fz-chrome {
@@ -332,41 +262,50 @@
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   align-items: center;
-  justify-content: flex-end;
+  justify-content: center;
   width: 100%;
   min-height: 216px;
   border: none;
   text-align: center;
   cursor: pointer;
-  padding: 64px 18px 20px;
+  padding: 22px 18px 18px;
   font-family: inherit;
   color: #f5f2ea;
-  /* Cinema scrim: darkness pools at the bottom and in the corners. */
+  /* Cinema scrim: a dark pool behind the centered copy, corners vignetted. */
   background:
-    radial-gradient(130% 90% at 50% 0%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0) 40%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.5) 100%),
-    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0) 20%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.62) 58%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.95) 100%) !important;
+    radial-gradient(120% 105% at 50% 52%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.62) 0%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.28) 52%, rgba(7, 8, 13, 0.7) 100%) !important;
 }
 
+/* Ivory-to-gold text with a traveling sheen and a slow breathing glow —
+   quiet effects, jewelry-grade, no gimmicks. */
 .fz-beacon-title {
   display: block;
-  font-size: 30px;
+  font-size: 31px;
   font-weight: 900;
-  letter-spacing: 0.13em;
-  text-indent: 0.13em;
+  letter-spacing: 0.14em;
+  text-indent: 0.14em;
   line-height: 1.04;
-  margin: 0 0 7px;
-  background: linear-gradient(100deg, #f7f3e8 0%, #f7f3e8 38%, #ffd98f 50%, #f7f3e8 62%, #f7f3e8 100%);
-  background-size: 240% 100%;
+  margin: 0 0 8px;
+  background-image:
+    linear-gradient(110deg, transparent 40%, rgba(255, 244, 214, 0.95) 50%, transparent 60%),
+    linear-gradient(180deg, #fdfaf1 0%, #f4e6c2 52%, #e5c084 100%);
+  background-size: 260% 100%, 100% 100%;
   -webkit-background-clip: text;
   background-clip: text;
   -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent;
-  animation: fzTitleSheen 4.5s ease-in-out infinite;
-  filter: drop-shadow(0 0 22px rgba(255, 205, 130, 0.28)) drop-shadow(0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8));
+  animation:
+    fzTitleSheen 5.5s ease-in-out infinite,
+    fzTitleBreathe 4.5s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 
 @keyframes fzTitleSheen {
-  0%, 25% { background-position: 120% 0; }
-  60%, 100% { background-position: -60% 0; }
+  0%, 30% { background-position: 130% 0, 0 0; }
+  62%, 100% { background-position: -70% 0, 0 0; }
+}
+
+@keyframes fzTitleBreathe {
+  0%, 100% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 16px rgba(255, 205, 130, 0.18)) drop-shadow(0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)); }
+  50% { filter: drop-shadow(0 0 30px rgba(255, 210, 140, 0.42)) drop-shadow(0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85)); }
 }
 
 .fz-beacon-sub {