diff --git a/lang/src/compiler/entry/compiler_stageb.hako b/lang/src/compiler/entry/compiler_stageb.hako
index 14762ce7..7bcc2310 100644
--- a/lang/src/compiler/entry/compiler_stageb.hako
+++ b/lang/src/compiler/entry/compiler_stageb.hako
@@ -269,6 +269,14 @@ static box StageBBodyExtractorBox {
               }
 
               if k3 >= 0 {
+                // Phase 25.1c: Guaranteed trace before balanced scan
+                {
+                  local trc = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_TRACE")
+                  if trc != null && ("" + trc) == "1" {
+                    print("[stageb/body] Before balanced scan: k3=" + ("" + k3) + " len=" + ("" + s.length()))
+                  }
+                }
+
                 // Balanced scan for matching '}'
                 local depth = 0
                 local i = k3
@@ -277,26 +285,68 @@ static box StageBBodyExtractorBox {
                 local esc = 0
                 local start_pos = -1
                 local end_pos = -1
+                local iter_count = 0  // Phase 25.1c: iteration counter
                 loop(i < n) {
+                  // Phase 25.1c: EVERY iteration trace (to detect i stall)
+                  iter_count = iter_count + 1
+                  {
+                    local trc = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_TRACE")
+                    if trc != null && ("" + trc) == "1" {
+                      // Print EVERY iteration to catch i-stall immediately
+                      print("[stageb/body/iter] #" + ("" + iter_count) + " i=" + ("" + i) + " depth=" + ("" + depth))
+                    }
+                  }
+                  // Phase 25.1c: Trace before substring call
+                  {
+                    local trc = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_TRACE")
+                    if trc != null && ("" + trc) == "1" {
+                      print("[stageb/body/substr-pre] #" + ("" + iter_count) + " calling s.substring(" + ("" + i) + ", " + ("" + (i+1)) + ")")
+                    }
+                  }
                   local ch = s.substring(i, i + 1)
+                  // Phase 25.1c: Trace after substring call
+                  {
+                    local trc = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_TRACE")
+                    if trc != null && ("" + trc) == "1" {
+                      print("[stageb/body/substr-post] #" + ("" + iter_count) + " got ch")
+                    }
+                  }
+                  // Phase 25.1c: Trace each branch
                   if in_str == 1 {
+                    print("[stageb/body/branch] in_str=1")
                     if esc == 1 { esc = 0  i = i + 1  continue }
                     if ch == "\\" { esc = 1  i = i + 1  continue }
                     if ch == "\"" { in_str = 0  i = i + 1  continue }
                     i = i + 1
                     continue
                   }
-                  if ch == "\"" { in_str = 1  i = i + 1  continue }
-                  if ch == "{" { depth = depth + 1  i = i + 1  continue }
+                  if ch == "\"" {
+                    print("[stageb/body/branch] quote")
+                    in_str = 1  i = i + 1  continue
+                  }
+                  if ch == "{" {
+                    print("[stageb/body/branch] open-brace depth=" + ("" + depth) + "->+1 i=" + ("" + i) + "->+1")
+                    depth = depth + 1  i = i + 1  continue
+                  }
                   if ch == "}" {
+                    print("[stageb/body/branch] close-brace depth=" + ("" + depth) + "->-1 i=" + ("" + i) + "->+1")
                     depth = depth - 1
                     i = i + 1
                     if depth == 0 { break }
                     continue
                   }
+                  print("[stageb/body/branch] other i=" + ("" + i) + "->+1")
                   i = i + 1
                 }
 
+                // Phase 25.1c: Guaranteed trace after balanced scan
+                {
+                  local trc = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_TRACE")
+                  if trc != null && ("" + trc) == "1" {
+                    print("[stageb/body] After balanced scan: depth=" + ("" + depth) + " i=" + ("" + i) + " iters=" + ("" + iter_count))
+                  }
+                }
+
                 {
                   local dbg = env.get("HAKO_STAGEB_DEBUG")
                   if dbg != null && ("" + dbg) == "1" {