diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/Release.yml b/.gitea/workflows/Release.yml
index 4f1275b..16a88a2 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/Release.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/Release.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ on:
         default: false
         type: boolean
 
+concurrency:
+  group: release-${{ github.repository }}
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
 env:
   GITEA_URL: http://gitea-http.gitea.svc.cluster.local:3000
   RELEASE_TOKEN_FILE: /runner-secrets/release-token
@@ -94,39 +98,18 @@ jobs:
           PR_NOTE="**Note:** Please use **Squash Merge** when merging this PR."
           DESCRIPTION="${CHANGES_CONTENT}"$'\n\n---\n\n'"${PR_NOTE}"
 
-          echo "Checking for existing release PRs..."
-          PRS=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
-            -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-            "${API_URL}/pulls?state=open" | jq '[.[] | select(.head.ref == "next-release")]')
-          PR_INDEX=$(echo "${PRS}" | jq -r '.[0].number // empty')
-
-          # If PR exists, rebase the branch onto the latest base branch
-          if [ -n "${PR_INDEX}" ]; then
-            echo "Rebasing PR #${PR_INDEX} branch onto ${BASE_BRANCH}..."
-            REBASE_RESPONSE=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "\n%{http_code}" -X POST \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-              "${API_URL}/pulls/${PR_INDEX}/update?style=rebase")
-            REBASE_CODE=$(echo "${REBASE_RESPONSE}" | tail -1)
-            if [ "${REBASE_CODE}" = "200" ]; then
-              echo "Successfully rebased branch onto ${BASE_BRANCH}"
-            elif [ "${REBASE_CODE}" = "409" ]; then
-              echo "Branch already up to date or rebase conflict - continuing with update"
-            else
-              echo "Warning: Rebase returned ${REBASE_CODE}, continuing anyway"
-            fi
-          fi
-
+          # Delete existing next-release branch to start fresh (auto-closes any open PR)
           echo "Checking for existing next-release branch..."
           BRANCH_CHECK=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "%{http_code}" -o /dev/null \
             -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
             "${API_URL}/branches/next-release")
-          echo "Branch check HTTP status: ${BRANCH_CHECK}"
           if [ "${BRANCH_CHECK}" = "200" ]; then
-            BRANCH_EXISTS="true"
-          else
-            BRANCH_EXISTS="false"
+            echo "Deleting existing next-release branch..."
+            curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X DELETE \
+              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+              "${API_URL}/branches/next-release"
+            echo "Branch deleted"
           fi
-          echo "Branch exists: ${BRANCH_EXISTS}"
 
           # Prepare CHANGELOG.md content
           CHANGELOG_CONTENT=$(base64 -w0 < CHANGELOG.md)
@@ -135,162 +118,88 @@ jobs:
           VERSION_JSON=$(jq -n --arg v "${VERSION}" '{"version":$v}')
           VERSION_CONTENT=$(echo "${VERSION_JSON}" | base64 -w0)
 
-          if [ "${BRANCH_EXISTS}" = "true" ]; then
-            echo "Updating existing next-release branch..."
+          echo "Creating new next-release branch from ${BASE_BRANCH}..."
 
-            # Get SHA of existing CHANGELOG.md
-            CHANGELOG_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-              "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md?ref=next-release" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
+          # Check if CHANGELOG.md exists on base branch to determine create vs update
+          CHANGELOG_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+            "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md?ref=${BASE_BRANCH}" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
 
-            # Update or create CHANGELOG.md
-            if [ -n "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" ]; then
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X PUT \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg sha "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md"
-            else
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch, new_branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md"
-            fi
-
-            # Get SHA of existing .version
-            VERSION_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-              "${API_URL}/contents/.version?ref=next-release" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
-
-            # Update or create .version
-            if [ -n "${VERSION_SHA}" ]; then
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X PUT \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg sha "${VERSION_SHA}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
-            else
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
-            fi
-          else
-            echo "Creating new next-release branch from ${BASE_BRANCH}..."
-
-            # Check if CHANGELOG.md exists on base branch to determine create vs update
-            CHANGELOG_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-              "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md?ref=${BASE_BRANCH}" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
-
-            if [ -n "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" ]; then
-              echo "Updating CHANGELOG.md (exists on ${BASE_BRANCH}) on new branch..."
-              RESPONSE=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "\n%{http_code}" -X PUT \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg sha "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "${BASE_BRANCH}" \
-                  --arg new_branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch, new_branch: $new_branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md")
-            else
-              echo "Creating CHANGELOG.md on new branch..."
-              RESPONSE=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "\n%{http_code}" -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "${BASE_BRANCH}" \
-                  --arg new_branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch, new_branch: $new_branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md")
-            fi
-            HTTP_CODE=$(echo "${RESPONSE}" | tail -1)
-            BODY=$(echo "${RESPONSE}" | sed '$d')
-            if [ "${HTTP_CODE}" -ge 400 ]; then
-              echo "Error with CHANGELOG.md: ${BODY}"
-              exit 1
-            fi
-
-            # Check if .version exists on base branch
-            VERSION_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
-              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-              "${API_URL}/contents/.version?ref=${BASE_BRANCH}" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
-
-            if [ -n "${VERSION_SHA}" ]; then
-              echo "Updating .version on next-release branch..."
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X PUT \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg sha "${VERSION_SHA}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
-            else
-              echo "Creating .version on next-release branch..."
-              curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X POST \
-                -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
-                -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-                --data "$(jq -n \
-                  --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
-                  --arg message "${TITLE}" \
-                  --arg branch "next-release" \
-                  '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
-                "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
-            fi
-          fi
-
-          if [ -n "${PR_INDEX}" ]; then
-            echo "Updating existing PR #${PR_INDEX}..."
-            curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X PATCH \
+          if [ -n "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" ]; then
+            echo "Updating CHANGELOG.md (exists on ${BASE_BRANCH}) on new branch..."
+            RESPONSE=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "\n%{http_code}" -X PUT \
               -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
               -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
               --data "$(jq -n \
-                --arg title "${TITLE}" \
-                --arg body "${DESCRIPTION}" \
-                '{title: $title, body: $body}')" \
-              "${API_URL}/pulls/${PR_INDEX}"
+                --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
+                --arg sha "${CHANGELOG_SHA}" \
+                --arg message "${TITLE}" \
+                --arg branch "${BASE_BRANCH}" \
+                --arg new_branch "next-release" \
+                '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch, new_branch: $new_branch}')" \
+              "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md")
           else
-            echo "Creating new PR..."
+            echo "Creating CHANGELOG.md on new branch..."
+            RESPONSE=$(curl -s --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -w "\n%{http_code}" -X POST \
+              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+              -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+              --data "$(jq -n \
+                --arg content "${CHANGELOG_CONTENT}" \
+                --arg message "${TITLE}" \
+                --arg branch "${BASE_BRANCH}" \
+                --arg new_branch "next-release" \
+                '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch, new_branch: $new_branch}')" \
+              "${API_URL}/contents/CHANGELOG.md")
+          fi
+          HTTP_CODE=$(echo "${RESPONSE}" | tail -1)
+          BODY=$(echo "${RESPONSE}" | sed '$d')
+          if [ "${HTTP_CODE}" -ge 400 ]; then
+            echo "Error with CHANGELOG.md: ${BODY}"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          # Check if .version exists on base branch
+          VERSION_SHA=$(curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+            "${API_URL}/contents/.version?ref=${BASE_BRANCH}" | jq -r '.sha // empty')
+
+          if [ -n "${VERSION_SHA}" ]; then
+            echo "Updating .version on next-release branch..."
+            curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X PUT \
+              -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+              -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+              --data "$(jq -n \
+                --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
+                --arg sha "${VERSION_SHA}" \
+                --arg message "${TITLE}" \
+                --arg branch "next-release" \
+                '{content: $content, sha: $sha, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
+              "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
+          else
+            echo "Creating .version on next-release branch..."
             curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X POST \
               -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
               -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
               --data "$(jq -n \
-                --arg title "${TITLE}" \
-                --arg body "${DESCRIPTION}" \
-                --arg head "next-release" \
-                --arg base "${DEFAULT_BRANCH}" \
-                '{title: $title, body: $body, head: $head, base: $base}')" \
-              "${API_URL}/pulls"
+                --arg content "${VERSION_CONTENT}" \
+                --arg message "${TITLE}" \
+                --arg branch "next-release" \
+                '{content: $content, message: $message, branch: $branch}')" \
+              "${API_URL}/contents/.version"
           fi
 
+          echo "Creating new PR..."
+          curl -sf --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused -X POST \
+            -H "Authorization: token ${TOKEN}" \
+            -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+            --data "$(jq -n \
+              --arg title "${TITLE}" \
+              --arg body "${DESCRIPTION}" \
+              --arg head "next-release" \
+              --arg base "${DEFAULT_BRANCH}" \
+              '{title: $title, body: $body, head: $head, base: $base}')" \
+            "${API_URL}/pulls"
+
   create-release:
     name: Create Release
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest